Social media has evolved into a hydra-headed creature threatening security of individual as well as state. Comment.

Approach:

Introduction

Media is the fourth estate of democracy with the advent of ICT the use of social media has increased and is being used as a platform for dissent in democracy

Role of social media

Media is used tool

• It provides multidimensional accountability
• It keeps a check over the arbitrary use of power
• It enhances the quality of governance and acts as a link between the citizens and the government eg Twitter handle of PM
• Quote the role in policy making agenda setting awareness creation Eg. Digital signature against / for EIA
• Addresses the needs of citizens in the nook and corner of the country (give example)
• Explain how social media is widespread across regions and sections of the society

Media is a double edged sword

• ( Give the points below under different heading individuals, national threat, international threat in a systematic pattern for better organisation of points)
• Medium usually used for arbitrary power against the government has become a tool for the government to put forward its control over the people Eg. Internet shut down
• Explain the fake news issues
• Issues related to mob lynching due to social media
• Explain how media can make and break a nation
• The case study of role of social media in Hong Kong protest
• Explain the sensationalization of news with the recent examples
• Media for likes and share leading to dangerous life threatening act, selfies
• Morphing and deep fake pornography leading to suicide, creation of false speech of leaders
• Example code the recent capitol protest in Washington DC after Trump post
• Explain how media is being used for recruitment and training by ISIS example of case in South India especially in Kerala
• Media create views and counterviews through their debates and discussions without actual knowledge this question influence people over the recent legislations
• false news of disasters and spread of diseases causing panic cause in the society example quote the current covid situation
• how the data protection bill is certainly necessary to protect the data of the citizens by the social media corporate owners who sale the data ,steal the data for the corporate profit interest and to please the politicians of the developed Nations (the example of Hawaii the cyber espionage caused by China)
• Quote how social media is being used by the leaders of various Nations to give their opinions on the other Nations affecting the sovereignty of the Nations (quote the example of Canada prime ministers Court on Indian farmer protest)

Recommendations

• Educating the people (PIB fact check in Instagram during covid lockdown)
• Using AI tools for eliminating the false news.
• Government owned media must be used for effective information delivery

Positive note 

• Explain how social media is helpful in handling the present pandemic situations disaster management and how it assist government and NGO in creating awareness and service delivery
• Explain the attitude changed by social media especially in case of swachh Bharat mission
• How media helps in service delivery, in the schemes to reach the marginalized people

Conclusion

Give the need for a reform and self-regulation   without the interference of the government for a healthy and successful functioning of social media and for sustainability of the democracy