Concerns about social media’s role in democracy

Source: The post concerns about social media’s role in democracy has been created, based on the article “Is social media doing more harm than good to democracy?” published in “The Hindu” on 22nd November 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3– Security-Challenges to internal security through communication networks, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges

Context: The article discusses concerns about social media’s role in democracy. It highlights how platforms like X (formerly Twitter) are becoming toxic due to ownership influence, like Elon Musk’s. It debates the importance of social media for news sharing, the need for moderation to reduce harm, and the value of ethical platforms and decentralized systems for better democratic communication.

For detailed information on Social media genie is out of the bottle, and we are all trapped read this article here

What are the Concerns with Social Media Ownership?

1. Influence on Political Discourse: Ownership by individuals like Elon Musk raises concerns about bias. Musk uses X (formerly Twitter) as a personal tool to shape political narratives, evidenced by his posts being algorithmically amplified.
2. Toxic Environment: The Guardian left X, calling it “a toxic media platform.” This highlights how ownership can affect the platform’s overall environment.
3. Neglect of Content Moderation: Musk eliminated trust and safety teams on X. For instance, during Southport riots, he reposted harmful content, showing the risks of inadequate moderation.
4. Misinformation and Hate Speech: Platforms like X fail to moderate local content effectively. India, with its linguistic diversity, lacks adequate moderators, unlike Facebook, which performs slightly better.
5. Centralized Control: Monopoly ownership of platforms enables censorship and manipulation, restricting the free flow of unbiased information critical for democracy.

How Critical is Social Media for News Dissemination?

1. Social media is crucial for sharing information because it reaches millions. For example, X has about 350 million users.
2. However, the influence of a few large companies makes it easy for governments to censor information.
3. The decline in referrals from social media and search engines is changing how news is disseminated.

What Measures Should Be Taken to Reduce Social Media Toxicity?

1. Increase Moderation Staff: India, with its vast population and multiple languages, has one of the lowest moderator-to-population ratios. Platforms need more staff to monitor hate speech and harmful content effectively. For example, during riots in Sri Lanka, Facebook lacked local moderators and relied on staff in Hyderabad, leading to poor handling of content.
2. AI for Harmful Content Detection: AI systems should identify and prevent dangerous behavior. For instance, during England’s Southport riots, harmful content spread unchecked on X, even reposted by Elon Musk.
3. Develop Ethical Platforms: Decentralized platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon offer safer alternatives, fostering healthy discussions and minimizing harmful content.
4. Promote Media Literacy: Schools should teach children how to analyze and verify information, reducing misinformation’s impact on users.

How Can Social Media Support Democracy?

1. Social media can be beneficial for democracy when used ethically. Platforms like Facebook, with billions of users, help people connect and share information widely.
2. However, when these platforms are controlled by monopolistic entities, they can undermine democracy.

For detailed information on The Rise of Social Media in Indian Politics read this article here

Question for practice:

Examine how social media ownership influences political discourse and impacts democracy.