The year 2021 was a defining period for digital media in Odisha. As the state, like the rest of the world, grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic, the internet became the primary town square. With increased smartphone penetration and data accessibility in rural pockets of the state, 2021 saw a shift in how information was consumed and disseminated. Social media platforms—specifically Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp—became the staging ground for debates on public health, governance, and law and order, often triggered by viral videos that captured the raw reality of the time.

The Orissa 2021 viral video sparked a larger debate about social issues, cultural context, and the complexities of rural Indian society. Many experts and commentators pointed out that the incident was symptomatic of deeper social problems, such as casteism, poverty, and lack of access to education and healthcare.

The year also saw viral clips used to demand justice and highlight systemic issues:

The "Orissa 2021 viral video" was never just a video. It was a mirror held up to a smartphone-addicted society—revealing a reflection of our rage, our biases, and our startling inability to distinguish between a cry for help and a violation of humanity.

A major point of discussion in 2021 involved a viral video depicting communal violence in Odisha during a religious festival The Oversight Board