Netizens are giving digital pebbles (memes, GIFs, reels, stickers) for people they like or are interested in, just like penguins do.
Assuming a cue from the affectionate Gentoo penguins who offer stones in their prospective mates’ nests, a plethora of digital memes, GIFs, reels, stickers, and posts have been left for partners, or for individuals they like and are interested in on social media. Giving someone you care about a meme like “That’s totally you” or “Good old days” is cool. It shows that you are missing them or are thinking of them. “Given our hectic schedules, pebbling acts as a reminder that someone is thinking of you, making it a small but significant gesture,” explains Vani Nair, Head of Social Media Marketing and Content at Dot Media. By encapsulating common experiences, inside jokes, understanding, and interests, sharing digital content such as memes, gifs, and stickers can build relationships by fostering a personalized communication style.
GLOBAL LOVE SPEAK
Netizens frequently interact in surface-level ways with “Likes” and “Comments.” Pebbling bridges this gap by giving a concrete example that brings someone to mind. Pebbling, according to 30-year-old Pooja Vora, a FR brand consultant at Amazon, is the equivalent of writing letters on a computer. Pooja states, “I can express my feelings of love, anger, or discomfort through these brief video forms.” There is always a meme available on the internet for any given situation. It’s only a little “Hey, I’m thinking about you” reminder, but occasionally it’s all we need to get through a difficult day.
THE CONNECTIVITY THREAD
She gets flowers from her spouse Harpreet that make her day, and exchanging digital information becomes essential in long-distance friendships and relationships. “I like to bake and cook dishes that he loves,” she says. Harpreet either sings me a song or a thread of connectivity when he gets home from work. Arushi Pachauri, a 27-year-old PR specialist working in Mumbai, describes an argument she had with her partner. At one in the morning, I heard a doorbell. My spouse surprised me by getting down on one knee and saying, “Happy Anniversary, I’m sorry,” while holding a rose. Pebbling bridges the physical gap by facilitating an ongoing, participatory communication flow.
Outside of the digital realm
Pebbling is a sign of affection, not a recent fad. Simple acts of kindness can make someone else’s day, such as lending out clothes and books, sending flowers, and leaving heartfelt words of gratitude. The 31-year-old freelance beauty artist Chhavi Kalra gets flowers from her spouse Harpreet every day, which makes her day. “I like to bake and cook dishes that he loves,” she says. Every day when Harpreet gets home from work, he either plays some music on his phone or sings me a song as we go in. Although pebbling is a cute trend, overexposure can cause tiredness and desensitization. ‘Pebbling’ should be integrated with meaningful activities and in-person talks to guarantee that digital affection enhances rather than substitutes deeper connections.
Leave a comment