Media is considered as a fourth pillar of democracy and social media is not an exception to it.
Social media is hailed as a significant discovery of bringing the people closer, increasing people to people contact, redressal of grievances platform, platform to raise dissent, making government machinery more accountable and efficient.
However in recent times the role of social media in achieving utilitarianism purpose has reached its lowest ebb.
A. A source of robbing people from their rational thinking as seen in the recent USA elections by Russian hackers.
B. A medium to spread fake news e.g GPS in 2000 rs note was trending at number 1 place during demonetization.
C. A source of bullying, name and shame, stress, fear, trauma e.g a pornstar was bullied and trolled recently on social site leading to her suicide.
D. A source to create divide between majority and minority leading to polarization e.g minority community in India was targeted during the incidents of cow vigilantism.
E. It has become source of youth radicalization eg Kerala youth being influenced by ISIS ideology thereby threat to peace, demographic dividend.
F. In recent times it has become a threat to net neutrality eg Facebook free basics was an issue of debate
CONCLUSION:-
Hence the need of the hour is social media platform should be responsible to filter each and every content before posting, framework to be made which regulates which content needs scrutiny. Hence it requires efforts of all the stakeholders to maintain the integrity of social media platform without any favor or disfavor.
