Challenges of Social Media in Democracy

Corporate and political power has overwhelmed large sections of the media, both print and visual, which lead to vested interests and destroy freedom.
The rise of polarizing and divisive content has been a defining moment of modern politics, which is fed by fake news propagation through social media channels.
Section 124a of IPC under which sedition is punishable by life imprisonment endanger the freedom of journalists. This lead to fear among journalists to work freely.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 imposes certain obligation on significant social media intermediaries.
Another dangerous element is the labelling and trolling of more rational voices or those who disagreed with the government’s actions or dominant public discourse as “anti-national.”
Many terror modules were busted by police in India, all of whose members were groomed, trained, funded and armed by their handlers on social networking sites.
World over, there are cases of terrorist operations, especially lone wolf attacks, being coordinated through social media.