social media boon or bane essay upsc

Social Media BOON or BANE (Essay for UPSC in 1000 Words)

In this article, you will find social media boon or bane essay. All the aspects are covered with examples. If you will like this article, please share it with your friends.

Introduction: Social Media Boon or Bane Essay

In this age of the 21st century when interaction across the globe, transcends all the social barriers with the technological social media platform. Moreover, it is just a stroke of a mouse or a touch of a Smartphone. Platforms that interconnected the whole world to learn a revolution in Tanisha and Libya.The revolution that breaks the sultanates. Autocratic rulers like Gaddafi is the misusing the same platform for the election of the president of the oldest democracy.

Donald Trump, to the feeling hearts of common Britain to Brexit. Isn’t it a reason to comment that a technology platform that uses shaped for us is ultimately shaping us? Lamenting the deteriorating relationship between nature and man and man with society. The greatest poet of his Times,  William Wordsworth  wrote:

If we are all being sent from heaven, If such was a Naturals Holy plan, Isn’t it a reason to lament? What has man made of man?

Long Social Media Boon or Bane Essay

Social media is the technological dream of the 20th century and the reality of the 21st century. That help in providing information to the wide public across the globe with one stroke of a mouse. But, unfortunately, social media whose name itself precedes “social” has turned out to be a “Nihilistic Tendency”.

For example, on Marina Beach, a group of friends is clicking selfies with a dying girl rather than helping her. Isn’t the tool of love and compassion that we “shaped for ourselves” actually “shaping ourselves”? Isn’t it a reason to lament What man has made of a man? Further, social media has turned us social.

Moreover, in Psychological science journals in the last 25 years, with the advent of the World Wide Web, people might have broken the barrier across social boundaries. But, it has increased the emotional distance between the family members. About 62% population using social media wishes “good morning” on social groups but unfortunately less than 6% start a day by wishing family members. The platform that we shaped ourselves has started shaping us.

Why social media is a Boon to Society?

Further, our likes, and dislikes are all being regulated by big social media companies, which are using it as a nudge unit to transform our choices. Even a click or simple Google search can lead to mails of respective products for commercial companies in the form of offers, and cashback to ultimately force one to buy that product. That’s how the cobweb of social media engulfs us.

Moreover, political parties start using these nudge units, which is a major threat. Even the radical organizations that are distributing the social fabric of the country. As per the report of the Institute of “ Economics and peace“, every year millions of dollars are shelled out. Which use to shape social media platforms to radicalize and ultimately shape the opinion of the common man. It has cost the world every year 1 to 2% of global GDP.

Social media has turned into a vicious cycle. Both parents working and access to unrestricted use of social media have transformed the enculturation process. Moreover, turning children into devils disturbs the balance of society. Blue whale game, misinterpretation of religious texts, and communal trolls are just the manifestations. Hence, it engulfed the man into the cobwebs of social media and harmed him.

How Social Media is Useful?

It’s the two-way process that is not only forming but strengthening the social contract, resulting in a new form of social barriers that reduce it. Although, social media is a devil in itself. It shaped the opinion of the world when Bhutan face the crisis at the hands of China. It has transformed the opinion and pressurized the European Union for rehabilitating refugees.

Moreover, it also strengthens the love and affection for art, music, and architecture between the people of India and Pakistan. Those have fought battles on the western border and on the Eastern border. Hence, it’s not only a two-way process of shaping opinion but also strengthening bonds and overcoming enmities.

Moreover, the problem doesn’t lie with social media. It’s a tool, we shape ourselves, “the way we want to”. Further, there is no doubt social media has become a powerful means to transfer the opinion of whom and to what extent. As per the World Bank report, on digital dividends, still, two-thirds of people in the world don’t have access to the internet.

The two-way enculturation process of social media will become a boon than a bane. So that it should not become a reason to lament but a festival of celebration. Deciphering the true nature holy plan of the building of a just and compassionate society to the bonds transcends all social and geographical boundaries. That’s, what, Man should and someday will be made of Man!

READ NEXT:-   What is the Role of Media

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Social Media And Its Impact On Society [UPSC Notes for GS I]

Social media has a profound influence especially on young people. Its impact and negative effects are often seen in the news; hence the topic’s relevance for the UPSC Mains. This article will describe in detail the impact of social media on society.

Aspirants would find this article very helpful while preparing for the IAS Exam .

These UPSC Notes on social media impact and its concerns are aligned with the UPSC Syllabus and aspirants should prepare this topic for General Studies Paper I.

Social Media And Its Impact On Society

• Social media has been accused of polarising society due to the inflammatory nature of certain posts. 
• World over concerns has been raised over social media being used for surveillance, election meddling, etc. 

Aspirants can know in detail about the New Social Media Rules, IT Rules 2021 on the given link.

• Social media has become ubiquitous. As per a UN report, 47 % of the global population is online and among them, the percentage of social media users is rising steadily. 
• It does not have a steep learning curve and compared to other traditional websites offers content in the local language.
• The barriers to entry are quite low and there is a large and well development ecosystem in place for users which is unavailable in traditional TV media. The positives of social media.
• Social media offers a variety of entertainment that offers an escape from the conventional scripted entertainment industry funded by established studios. 
• It offers people-to-people interaction that breaks barriers and forges a true human connection. 
• It also has been instrumental in pro-democracy fights in many oppressive regimes.
• Social media also played an important role in bringing out stories of ‘Metoo’ victims.
• Social media is also playing a crucial role in disaster relief, blood donation drives, etc.

Check out in detail about the Press Council of India on the link provided here.

Candidates preparing for the upcoming Civil Services Exam can go through the links provided below for comprehensive preparation-

The extent of Social Media

• India has 574 million active Internet users as of 2019. Read more on What is Internet on the given link.
• India is the second-largest online market, behind China.
• It was estimated that by December 2020 there will be around 639 million active internet users in India.
• The majority of India’s internet users are mobile phone internet users. The overall data traffic in India increased by 47% in 2019 driven by continued 4G consumption. 4G constituted 96% of the total data traffic consumed across the country while 3G data traffic registered its highest-ever decline of 30%. Know in detail about 4G features and advantages on the given link.

Also, check out the difference between 5G and 4G on the linked page.

• It has led to anonymous trolls who attack the reputation of an individual. 
• Women face cyber rape and threats that affect their dignity severely. 
• Fake news and communal venom also spread like wildfire on the media. 
• Fake news about a child abduction gang was spread by teenagers as a prank and this led to a few people being attacked. This is encouraged by the fact that internet anonymity offers a disconnect from reality. So its users feel that they are not going to face any consequence of their actions.
• Social media bubbles or echo chambers are created where one finds only opinions that conform to one’s own worldview (confirmation bias). This strengthens already existing biases and prejudices. 
• It also creates false notions about beauty and physical standards and strengthens narcissism in some and weakens self-esteem in others. 
• Very structured, deep psychometric analyses have been used to influence elections and incite violence.

The role of media in society is a highly debated topic. There have been calls to regulate social media or ban it altogether. A ban might be an extreme step. However, a digitally literate country is the need of the hour. Responsible social media use must be taught at every school and college in the country. Aspirants should know the role of media in its entirety for the IAS Exam. 

Social Media And Its Impact On Society (UPSC Notes – GS 1) – Download PDF Here

The above details would help candidates prepare for  UPSC 2023 .

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• Social Networking Site: Its Advantages and Disadvantages

With the advent of internet and mobile computation (2G, 3G, and 4G) social media has progressed a lot. It has changed the outlook of how society communicates with each other. It has created the world a smaller place to live in.

Social networking includes the social network among people of similar interests, activities, workplace or real life connections. Earlier the social networks used to get added in social gatherings like parties, meetings etc but nowadays social networks proliferate due to the emerging trends of social networking sites. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Instagram, Likedin, Skype, being the most commonly and widely used ones. Man is a social animal having the inherent desire to connect and expand connections. Despite all the geographical distances people stay in touch with each other. Today these networking sites have become the inseparable part of our life.

The growth of social networking sites is beneficial to the society as these sites have many positive aspects. The most crucial being a person getting updated of all the happenings around the world. There are several pages, groups dedicated to debates and discussions where people from different parts of the world, society and religion come across the common platform, share ideas, beliefs and inferences. This helps in developing the thought process of an individual as he comes across both sides of a subject or an issue. It is the platform where an individual can be vocal about his thoughts and share it worldwide. And not only this there are pages and groups relating to almost everything-one can go for jokes, look for job updates, GK questions and what not.

Here, people get connected to their old friends from schools, colleges and also meet new people having same interests and ideas and become friends with them.

Social media has become so popular that 'spreading a word' is easier and has become the fastest mode of communication. Thus all the influential personalities whether it being political, bollywood, socialists make their pages and spread messages to the whole nation.

Other advantage is push to the advertisement industry where companies can showcase their products on social media which has also helped creating job opportunities.

As we all know anything in excess is always bad. These Social Networking websites have many adverse effects too. People tend to spend lot of quality time on these websites peeping into other's pictures, statuses and then liking and commenting on them.

Social media has also created social isolation among individuals as instead of face to face interaction they have started preferring communicating through these websites. Instead of making phone calls, people wish their friends and relatives on Facebook on their respective birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions. The real essence of relationship is missing these days.

No doubt these websites have helped bringing us closer to friends we have lost contact with but minute to minute update on whereabouts is really not imperative.

The major drawback is the impact on youth. The teenagers who are at crucial stage of their life get addicted to these sites and waste a lot of time which they should devote to their studies and building innovative ideas which results in low grades. Why only youth, anyone addictive to these websites have become less productive.

With the astounding growth worldwide one more important issue rising is the increase in cyber crime. The hackers hacks ids of people, posts inappropriate stuff, misuses the photographs, create fake s and misguide people and do Identity theft. To investigate these issues there is a cyber crime department created in police department.

In the end I would like to conclude, making social media a boon or bane is in one's own hands. Using social media is not bad but one should take care of one's privacy level by pondering all the goods and bads of these sites.

Neha Kapila

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Free Resources: Topical Analysis

Social Media and Internal Security Threat

Published: 12th Jul, 2019

 Social Media can be defined as any web or mobile based platform that enables an individual or agency to communicate interactively and enables exchange of user generated content and it is explained by a number of tools, which includes blogs, Wikis, discussion forums, micro-blogs, twitter and social networking sites. 

Challenges in Monitoring Social Media

1)    Server Location and Laws of Different Countries: Lack of Geographical Boundaries makes social media regulation an arduous task. Major Complicating Factors to secure the networks and Media Much of the hardware and software that make up the communications ecosystem is sourced externally.

2)    Encrypted Message: Use of phones/whatsapp to send and receive messages, concerns the government because the communications sent via such devices and applications are encrypted and could not be monitored and consequently hinders the country's efforts to fight terrorism and crime.

3)    Complicated Networks: The task of securing the networks is also complicated by the fact that much of the infrastructure is in the hands of private companies who see measures such as security auditing and other regulations and frameworks as adding to their costs. Source of Origin is difficult to find out.

In a globalised society media becomes a lethal weapon against the enemy, and the populace as well. Information, as an element of soft power, is a strategic instrument within the context of grand strategy. There should be judicious use of social media. But we will have to mull steps to check its misuse for creating Internal security threat to Nation. Social Media, with all its benefits and the potential for more, is definitely a boon to our world, however misuse or irresponsible usage can have negative affectson  an Internal security. We need to guard against the negative impact of the social media, which ought to be used in the correct manner for creative or productive purposes so that it is progressive to mankind and society at large, rather than regressive.

Role of Media in India

  Media is the means of communication that reaches or influences people widely, has a significant place in the statecraft machinery especially in the age of information revolution. It is the source of information for a society regarding any issue be it local, regional or global, people rely and even trust on what is presented to them by media.

Uses of Social Media by Terrorist Organizations

One of the biggest challenges of today's world is Terrorism & its increasing reach. Almost all the continents are facing it with the same urge. Terrorist organizations are using media & especially electronic media like internet platforms, emails, and social media etc. due to convenience, affordability & broad reach provided by it.

Case Studies of Uses of Social Media by Terrorist Organizations:

1)      In Recruitment from other countries: 

ISIS is using the network of their recruiters around the world & paying them $2000 to $10000 depending upon who is recruited. Recruiters are using social media platform. They are releasing videos of to target individuals who are susceptible to its message of violence and adventure. ISIS has also benefited from "disseminators", individuals who are sympathetic to their cause but not fighting for them. Social media and other communication methods has also enabled those who are willing to be radicalised to directly engage with the conflicts in Iraq and Syria and communicate with ISIS fighters. As per new confidential U.S. intelligence assessment indicates that as many as 30,000 foreigners from more than 100 countries have flocked to Syria and Iraq to join the ranks of ISIS in the past year, double the number of recruits from the year before. Of the 30,000 newcomers more than 4,500 have come from Western countries, including 250 Americans and 750 Britons In Europe it is Belgium from where more than 500 people joined ISIS.

India is also suffered from it however less severely. So far, near 23 Indians have gone to ISIS hold areas in Iraq-Syria to fight for the terrorist group.

2)    In Name of religion:

A 26-year-old MBA from Hyderabad, decided to leave his pregnant wife to join the ISIS in Syria. To do khidmat (service) and be part of the ISIS or the Islamic State, this young man, like many other Indian Muslims, had been interacting with handlers on the social media and gradually getting lured to the idea of attaining jannat (heaven) by serving the Sunni terror group that has massacred thousands in order to set up a Caliphate. After watching ISIS videos and interacting with radicals, he wanted to go to Syria.

3)   Targeting Women:

Recently three teenage girls left their homes and families in London to travel to Syria and join ISIS. Days before the girls' departure, a Twitter account appearing to belong to 15-year-old Shamima Begum tweeted to an account associated with a female ISIS member known online as ‘Umm Layth’. Umm Layth is the name used online by Aqsa Mahmood, a 20-year-old woman who ran away from her home in Glasgow in November 2013 to join ISIS and marry a militant. Mahmood is part of a small clique of ISIS women with active and publicly visible Twitter profiles. They use the platform to share "the truth" about their lives in Syria and Iraq and make themselves available to potential "recruits." These accounts actively encourage interested parties to reach out to them using messaging apps like. Kik and SureSpot for advice on how to "make hijrah," or migrate, to the "Islamic State." In addition to offering one-on-one advice, these accounts also continually tweet reasons why women should leave their countries and join the militant group. Accounts claiming to belong to ISIS fighters also applaud the women who have joined the group. One of the much-touted selling points of living in ISIS-controlled territory, according to these accounts, is its diverse membership.

4)    Use of Print Media:

Copies of Dabiq which carries ISIS propaganda on an array of topics including jihad and reviving slavery were available for $26. The product description described Dabiq as "a periodical magazine focusing on issues of tawhid (unity), manhaj (truth-seeking), hijrah (migration), jihad (holy war), and jama'ah (community), including photo reports, current events, and informative articles on matters relating to the Islamic State." Despite going on sale Saturday, Dabiq is freely available online. The magazine is part of ISIS's sophisticated propaganda efforts that also include YouTube videos and forays into social media.

Social Media in the arena of Communal Violence:

i)     2012 North East Violence :

In July 2012, violence in the Indian state of Assam broke out with riots between indigenous Bodos and Bengali-speaking Muslims. The violence and exodus of thousands of people from North-east India reportedly led to a series of incessant protests in Assam, at multiple locations, during the months of August-September. The protesters' main demand was expeditious detection and deportation of illegal infiltrators from Assam.

Nearly 80 people have been killed and 4,00,000 displaced in fighting between Muslims and mostly Hindu Bodo tribesmen in North-eastern Assam state. The mass flight was sparked by rumours that Muslims, a big minority in pred ominantly Hindu India, were seeking revenge for the Assam violence. First a Mumbai demonstration in support of Muslims in Assam turned violent, leaving two people dead. Then tens of thousands of people from the Northeast who lived and worked in big cities in the south of India packed up and fled back home terrorized by Facebook, Twitter and text messages threatening them with violence in retaliation for what was happening in the North. The Indian government accused Pakistani agents of producing the threatening material to destabilize India. Then India went on a web crackdown, ostensibly trying to shut off the social media causing the panic but setting off a fierce debate about censorship in the process.

As the government began to dig in to the cause of the panic, the story became increasingly strange. Almost none of the images that were ostensibly outraging Muslims in the rest of India, and potentially spurring them to acts of vicious revenge, were actually of Assam. The much-circulated Facebook images were Photoshopped (often badly) pictures of atrocities allegedly carried out against Muslims in Burma several years ago or entirely unrelated pictures (such as those of Buddhist monks helping earthquake victims in Tibet) purporting to be from Assam. But the media consumers in question were not sophisticated, and the rationality was lost in the mass panic.

The use of bulk SMSs and social media to aggravate the communal situation is a new challenge that the recent disturbances have thrown before us we need to devise strategies to counter the propaganda that iscarried out by these new means. Any measure to control the use of such media must be carefully weighed against the need for the freedom to express and communicate.

ii)    Muzaffarnagar Riots:

Social Media had a key role in the Muzaffarnagar riots also, the posts by user over Facebook, Twitter, SMS & coverage by the Indian media tend to affect to mold the opinions and actions of the other individuals of the society.

27th August 2013, a terrifying yet sad day in India which gave birth to a new group of communal riots namely 'Muzaffarnagar Riots'. Severe clashes between the two communities, the 'Muslims' and 'Jats' in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, India broke out in the parts of rural areas and communally sensitive district of Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh which claimed more than 43 lives leaving 93 plus injured.

From inception, the situations and factors which led to the emergence of such serious riots and violence was, on this one day when a Hindu girl was walking past a Muslim community on her way to school; she was being harassed by a man who passed lewd, insulting comments on her. Subsequently killing of Muslim boy & lynching of girl's brother in revenge started the problem which turned into a social unrest.

This was not the end but a beginning which opened doors to the Muzaffarnagar communal riots. The girl's father, when tried filing a FIR against the family of the boy who had harassed the girl, the police refused to register the FIR. On the other hand, when the Muslim family went to file a FIR for the murder of their son who harassed the girl, the police readily registered the case and arrested the Father of the girl with his other close relatives.

Here, the problem actually started, as by thinking that, clear discrimination was done by the administration, theJat community requested the panchayat of their community to force the police in order to drop the charges against girl's father. Nonetheless, the Administration did not take any final decision. The Jat community again approached the Panchayat under the 'BahuBetiBachaoSammelan' and distributed a few inflammatory videos and pictures via CD/MMS. In situation when no action taken by administration, Muslim community attacked the Hindu on certain day . After this incident, the riots spread like fire which became uncontrollable.

The vernacular media and a few major national news channels (electronic) have seemed to have played a vital role in provoking and instigating serious violence and aggression against the Muslim community. Through unfound and false stories, a mischievous and deliberate attempt in spreading hatred between the communities was a part of the role which the media played. Nonetheless, with the support of the representatives of political parties like BJP, they used social media like Facebook, MMS and CD's as a tool arouse hatred before as well as during the riots. Moreover, the people of Muzaffarnagar gave a communal color to the violence by exaggerating the incidents. Many Hindi news channels and newspapers misreported the happenings on daily basis by setting up a picture in the minds of the public that it was the Muslims who were slaughtering the Hindus and initiating distorted violence. As a result, there was a severe rise in the rumors and passion to fight and revolt back in the riots.

The internet has become an integral part of modern living. The spread of social media and the use of platforms is changing the way society operates. Social media has been playing a destructive role in inciting communal violence in India and time has come to check its misuse. Social networking sites are a threat to national security as they are used as tools for drug trafficking, money laundering and match-fixing, terrorism, instigating violence and for rumor tools etc. Social media tools like Blogs, Wikis, Discussion forums, Micro blogs, SMS, And the most burning issue, i.e. Social networking sites Facebook, Twitter etc.

Social Media can be  defined, among other things, as  tools; how they are used, by whom they are used and for what  reason can represent either a threat or an opportunity for  National Security, it is itself shouldn't  be seen as a potential threat  to National Security but those who use these tools may  pose a potential risk.

"It is now a given that social media environments are important sources of data for understanding the dynamics of the diffusion of information and human behavior”. Evidence suggests that, social media had an impact on events such as Mujaffarnagar riots, Godhara Riots, Babri Masjid riots etc. Groups representing a potential threat to National Security like, International terrorist groups, Transnational Crime Organisations, Cracker groups, Religious sections, Hacker groups, NGO's, International organizations,Allied foreign states, terrorist groups etc.

Media and Internal Security Threat

  Throughout history, nation & states have faced security threats from both internal and external sources, but in modern times internal security complications poses greater threats especially when these are accentuated by hostile states. Many nations, like Yugoslavia, Sudan, Congo etc. have succumbed to them and many, like Yemen are facing survival threat.

Political destabilizations, violent internal conflicts, legitimacy crisis etc are some of the internal security threats to which South Asia is not an outlier. These have disintegrated nations like Pakistan in 1971 and some have been able to return from the brink like in Sri Lanka but all continue to face challenges.

What are different components of internal security and challenges faced by India?

If we define security as the maintaining territorial integrity and keeping peace and harmony within, than internal security automatically presupposes:

• The feeling of nationalism, brotherhood among all citizens because without these maintenance of integrity will be difficult. In the absence of this there are always chances of nation breaking into pieces.

•  Respect for laws, policies and institutions among the people and the capacity of the state to earn respect through policies which promote inclusive growth, ensure justice, equity and participation.

• Capabilities of the organs of the state like police, security forces, judiciary to keep faith of people intact, earn legitimacy and respond to the new emerging challenges like organized crime,

In spite of the efforts by the constitution makers to provide independent and credible institutions, political mechanism to tackle any kind of internal security problems India faces many of them:

• India is diverse and large country and in such situations differences are bound to arise. Many a times such differences are aggravated naturally and sometimes because of politics which create internal security challenges like communalism, Caste and ethnic violence etc.

• Sometimes unintended consequences of government policies or inefficiencies of governments may also create internal security challenges like left wing extremism, organized crime, illegal migration from Bangladesh etc.

• Other times the threats are posed by well organized crime syndicates whose main aim is just to run illegal, underground businesses but they attack the psyche of people eroding the credibility of state.

What is the role of media in internal security?

Media role in internal security can be analyzed from the prism of news, views and issues. How it presents them to the populace can help either in strengthening or weakening of the basics of internal security. In the globalized world it has to strike a balance between people's right to know on the one side and national security and social ethics on the other.

If we look from the perspective of issues media can play a very important role in improving internal security as it plays the role of information provider, information disseminator. It can mould the perception of both people and government, can lead to re-formulation of policies if they are wrong and can prevent negative outcomes which could have arisen.

Through its ground reporting it can warn of governments about the issues which can become security threat in future, like it can inform about the growing discontent in a particular area or group of people.

Role of Awareness Creation

·          It can disseminate information about the various programmes and policies that government has launched for vulnerable section and areas and thus creating a feeling of belongingness and thus creating a mass based shield against internal security threats.

·          It can educate people about the long term benefits of various initiatives by government as people many a times fail to see beyond what is visible immediately.

·          It can act a morale builder by showcasing the gains country has made in different spheres, economic, social, technological etc. and thus creating a sense of pride among people, various agencies. This sense of pride along helps in creating sense of nationalism, brotherhood if gains are equitably distributed.

·          It can help in countering propaganda and act as a tool to play information war. For example, it can counter the propaganda by Maoists, North-East insurgent groups by providing right facts and figures.

·          It can help in creating social cohesion by showing such programmes which shows inter-group cordial relations, rich history of peaceful Coexistence etc.

·          It can bring accountability among government institutions by highlighting lapses, atrocities committed by them or other lacunas in their operations. It helps in making institutions ready for any emergency situation

Regarding news reporting the media should know the difference between information, curiosity and the rumour. It has to strike a balance between giving instantaneous news and not acting as a tool in the hands of the anti-thetical elements by telecasting horrifying, gory images, live telecasting or divisive speeches. It should not act as an intelligence tool for terrorists by live telecasting operation details of security agencies.

How has Indian media played its role in internal security?

Media in India has played its role very responsibly most of the times, but it also has its share of lapses.

• It has helped in bringing out the correct information regarding issues of naxalism, the ineffectiveness of the policies pursued and thus helping in course correction. It has fought tooth and nail against policies like that of SalwaJudum, which might have long term repercussions on national integration.

• It has highlighted the issues of displacement, inequitable growth, rising inequalities, forcible acquisition of land and other resources etc, which if not handled may become security threats in long term.

•  Many a times it has brought out the reports of lapses in governments preparedness related to internal security and thus bringing accountability. In India media has played great role in highlighting the issues of human rights violation by security forces, absence of latest arms and technologies with police forces and thus creating a public opinion against such lapses.

• It has brought atrocities committed by security forces in light and course correction, which has helped in bringing people closer to governments as they feel that government care for them.

•  It has helped in building resilience against any kind of efforts by ISIS to spread roots in India by creating a popular opinion against it.

• It has helped by giving a space for the dis-heartened people to vent their anger. This alternative has helped in maintenance of law and order in great way.

But, in recent times because of proliferation of news channels and them pivalry with another for TRP instances of yellow journalism, dissemination of unverified news and one sided information by some unscrupulous news channels have emerged. Such actions of media have negative impact on long term internal security.

• The concept of breaking news have many a times detrimental effect on National Security.  Amplifying the fear factor through news reporting, live telecast of sensitive information are some of the concern areas here. For example, during the time of Mumbai terror attacks TV channels live telecasted operations by security forces. In recent Gurdaspur terrorist attack also same thing happened.

• The instances of playing too much with divisive issues, blowing news out of context have also surfaced in recent times. Seeking opinion of irresponsible individuals on sensitive issues may disrupt the social fabric of the country.

• This has also been aggravated by spread of social media which is taking the shape of public sourced media and also as a barometer of acceptance & popularity. This has made media houses dump objective reporting and playing to the tunes of masses who don't have knowledge of long term ill-effects of such things.

What should be done?

Media is an important tool of statecraft and ‘fourth pillar’ of democracy. Our constitution ensures freedom of speech and expression which also includes freedom of press. But, it should be kelp in mind that, this freedom must be exercised responsibly otherwise it can turn into a tool for creating disorder, confusion and mistrust. This in turn will bring media regulation by government in future, which will weaken the fourth pillar and democracy itself. The reasonable restrictions on freedom of speech must be treated as sacrosanct by media houses and must be self-adhered.

• The media houses must evolve their own code of ethics and self regulation mechanisms through which actions against those acting against the interest of the national security can be taken.

• Governments must also be proactive and must continuously provide immediate, accurate and reliable information so that public is not influenced by sensational and biased news reporting.

•  Media houses must also strengthen their local networks so that they can provide actual ground reports, can provide information in local languages because at present there exist a gap between local and national news which should be bridged.

•  With emergence of multiple sources of information the credibility of information is lost. This aspect must be taken care of because credibility is of paramount importance for media.

It is said that, media should do objective reporting without any objective but sometimes reporting with objective of strengthening of the National Integration can be carried. The example of role played by media in unification of Germany must be kept in mind and that should be the objective of the media, uniting the divided.

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Essay on Social Media – Boon or Bane

Social Media gives us the chance of sharing information and is a way of connectivity. It has not only attracted many of also, became a big source of entertainment. Many people love spending time on social media and many don’t. Some become rags to riches and some face vice versa. This creates two ideologies about social media which say the boon and the bane. Social media can be a good platform for many but, at the same time, it has its own cons too.

Short and Long Essay on Social Media – Boon or Bane in English

Here are variety of essays that mention the pros and cons of social media.

10 Lines Essay on Social Media – Boon or Bane (100 – 120 Words)

1) Social media are tools using which users can share their pictures, views, thoughts, etc.

2) It is a great platform to keep everyone virtually connected.

3) Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube, WhatsApp, etc are some social media platforms.

4) In 1997, Six Degrees was launched as the very first social networking site.

5) Social media is good way to keep entertained.

6) It keeps you updated with what’s going in the world.

7) With social media, distance is just a word as we can virtually connect to anyone.

8) Spending much more time on social media is injurious to your health.

9) People can easily be the victim of social frauds and crimes.

10) Social media separates you from reality.

Short Essay on Social Media – Boon or Bane (200 – 250 Words)

Social media is a name that is everyone aware of. In simple words, we can define social media as a platform that allows users to share photos, videos, texts or communicate through messages or calls. A lot of exciting features are available on social media due to which people especially the young generations are more attracted towards it.

In 1997, the first social media platform by the name Six Degrees was launched; gradually other platforms came into existence. Some famous social media platforms that encounter a large number of users today are Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc.

Social media is a great way of entertainment, more than half of its users are here for the same purpose. Others can use it as a source of information. News in social media is spread like fire. Moreover, social media is a boon for business purposes. One can promote its product or service on social media in an effective way. Apart from these, today people from different places can connect with each other. This is possible only because of social media.

But social media is also a great source of spreading fake news. People are now addicted to social media which in turn can affect their health. Cybercrimes, online bullying, security, and privacy issues represent its dark side.

Long Essay on Social Media: Boon or Bane (1500 Words)

Introduction

Social media is a vital part of our lives and it can be understood in such a way that an average person spends around 2 and a half hours on social media per day. Currently, the social media population is around 4 billion who are active. From Facebook to Instagram, social media has its roots.

People get so much indulged in this that they forget many things. However, some people use it in such a way that it can be used to grow businesses and share information. Social Media has also turned out to be one of the platforms that give people the opportunity to grow in a big way. People gain popularity and become influencers. This inspires many people to get popular and promote products. It is indeed requirements in today’s era that how people are utilizing social media.

What is Social Media?

While talking about the definition of social media, we can get many social media definitions and everyone has their own. Social Media is basically a web-based platform that allows people, join, communicate, and share their ideas, thoughts and beliefs. The forms of sharing can include texts, images and videos. People who are on social media are called users. The way of sharing is known as posts.

People from different parts of the world come on social media and connects with each other in order to understand other people’s cultures and ways of living. Users have the access to see what they want to see and raise the issue of whatever happening around the globe. There are considerably many types of social media platforms according to usage. Among all of them, 4 are majorly talked and discussed and they are mentioned below-

• Social Networking Sites, which allow to post in texts, photos and videos.
• Image sharing – These sites allow users to share images and sometimes message.
• Video Sharing – They are meant to upload and post video contents as YouTube does.
• Blogging – Users post hefty content giving opinions or explaining texts with a touch of graphics.

A Brief History of Social Media

Social Media has now billions of users. But the things were not as we see them today. Social Media however gained popularity in past few years and it has some past. From the beginning, people were unaware of what actually is social media. To make friends and connect people with each other a platform called Six Degrees. It allowed users to create profiles and make friends. It was launched in the year 1997 and shut down in 2001.

Following the footsteps of Six Degrees, Freindster came out in the market in the year 2002. 2002 noticed the launches of LinkedIn and MySpace. The big rise in social media was seen in the year 2008 when Facebook surpassed MySpace as the most viewed site in the world. However, Facebook was initially limited to Harvard Students when launched in 2004. Youtube was launched in 2005, Instagram came in 2010 and Snapchat made existence in the year 2011.

Advantages of Social Media

Social Media platforms can be useful in many ways. They can popularize people within no time. Can help you grow your business. Many people love social media in such a way that it can provide information at the same time it can entertain us. Some of the advantages of social media which are considered a boon are mentioned below.

• Informative – Social Media has a lot of information and from many sources. It is social media that many people in rural areas are able to have information. The quickness of internet is the reason behind it. On social media, many news organizations and people share news and data which leads to spread of information.
• Publicity – It is a great publicity tool, in fact best. On Social Media people get fame overnight. It only takes a blink to make anything go viral and create a storm on social media. Apart from big celebrities get fame and good audience for their works. Ranu Mondal used to be a beggar but with her singing qualities got fame she became an overnight star.
• Business Promotion – Internet has a lot of resources; one of them is social media. Social media is generally recommended by many experts for business promotion. It is fast and easy to use which leads to connect people very quickly to any businesses. Many people don’t go with big advertisement but choose to use social media tools to publicize their business.
• Entertainment – Who doesn’t use social media for entertainment? Entertainment is one of the main purposes for which social media are considerably used. People across the globe use social media to watch videos and share photos. Instagram has recently added a feature of reels to post short videos which is one of the most loved features.
• Connectivity – Connectivity is a main factor about social media. If connectivity is not there, then how can we get publicity and grow the business. With the ease to reach any part of the world, users can make friends and connect with each other.

Disadvantages of Social Media

When we talk about social media’s advantages, we must talk about its disadvantages. There are certain pros and cons that social media holds. These cons are somewhere bad and sometimes lead to a disaster resulting in the bane of social media. Some of the notable disadvantages of social media are listed below.

• Fake News – Social Media has a hefty amount of information and sources. The information however, can be useful or can be not. There are cases when social media is used as a weapon to spread fake news and lead to many adverse impacts.
• Cybercrimes – Since internet is big and has a lot of people getting involved in it. It is quite obvious that there can be people who can commit crimes too. Cases of threats, harassing and bullying over social media leads to many cases of cybercrimes on social media.
• Cyber Security – People are found to share their personal information which leads to the damage life, property and data of many people. Cyber Security also deals with penetration of harmful software without the consent of user. One of the recent events is related to Pegasus.
• Health – People who spend their maximum time on social media can have adverse effects on their health. They always sit in front of their devices watching the screen sometimes in dark too. This can result in problems related to eyes and can lead to obesity.
• Peer Pressure – Most of the teenagers see people posting things on social media. It creates a mindset among teenagers to buy those things. This mindset is called peer pressure. This peer pressure can lead to many teenagers commit different types of crimes.

Interesting Facts about Social Media

A lot has been discussed about social media. Some good and some bad. But, we must also focus on some interesting facts and stats on social media which are mentioned below.

• There are around 4.2 billion social media users in the world.
• Facebook has approximately 4.5 billion users.
• About 90 billion dollars were spent on social network advertising in 2019.
• About 500 hours of content is uploaded on in every second on YouTube.
• Alone Instagram has the highest number of followers on Instagram with 410 followers.
• The second most used search engine after Google is Youtube.

Social media is a vital part and we are so much into it. It is a habit of all of us to use social media in our free time. But, we must understand getting totally into it can lead to many problems. It is important to know that whatever is good for us can cause trouble sometimes. Also, whenever we are getting any information on social media then we should verify it first. With this, we can make social media a better place for all of us.

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

Ans. Facebook is the most used Social Media Platform.

Ans. Six Degrees was the first social media platform launched in the year 1997.

Ans. Social media has the advantage of quickness, connectivity, and convenient.

Ans. Social media has disadvantages of fake news, cybercrimes and online bullying.

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• Speech Writing /

Social Media Bane Or Boon? Short and Long Speech for Students

• Updated on  
• Nov 7, 2023

Social Media Bane or Boon: We open our cell phones and search for something, say a restaurant or coffee shop. Within seconds, all our questions are answered. This is the power of social media , where we get to know any and every information across the world. Sitting in an Asian country, we can easily find out what’s happening in South America or any other continent. But as they say, as long as there is light, there will be shadows also. Social media is also like that. It does offer us several benefits and serves as a fundamental tool for the modern world, but it also has several drawbacks. Let’s understand why the concept of Social Media Bane or Boon is so popular these days.

Table of Contents

• 1 10 Lines on Social Media Bane or Boon
• 2 1-Short Speech on Social Media Bane or Boon
• 3 Long Speech on Social Media Bane or Book
• 4 Popular Quotes and Slogans on Social Media Bane or Boon

Also Read: Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Media

10 Lines on Social Media Bane or Boon

Here are 10 lines on social media bane or boon.

• Excessive use of social media has resulted in a decline in face-to-face interactions, leading to a sense of isolation and disconnection in society.
• Social media has empowered marginalized communities to voice their opinions and advocate for social justice and equality.
• False information on social media creates confusion and societal discord.
• Social media platforms have facilitated the spread of information and ideas, fostering global awareness and activism.
• Social media has facilitated online learning and education, providing access to a vast array of resources and knowledge.
• Social media creates the fear of mission out (FOMO).
• India has the highest number of social media users, approximately 550 million.
• Social media has helped people connect with others living in a far-off country.
• More than 100 million businesses are flourishing on social media.
• Social media offers immense knowledge, from the evolution of the world to the present day.

Also Read: Social Media Giving Day 2023  

1-Short Speech on Social Media Bane or Boon

‘I greet you all present here. I’m here to present a short speech on Social Media Bane or Boon. We are all connected to social media, directly or indirectly. Social media has transformed the traditional way we communicate, share information, and connect with the world around us. However, social media has a dual nature, which we must not neglect. 

We all know that social media platforms operate as powerful tools for facilitating global awareness, promoting businesses, and enabling rapid communication during emergencies. It has created opportunities for individuals to express themselves, share their stories, and find communities that resonate with their interests and values.

But, the pervasive nature of social media has led to the rise of various concerns. Incidents like the dissemination of misinformation, fake news, cyberbullying, online harassment, etc. have brought the darker side of social media to the surface. These negative aspects have a profound impact on our mental health and societal well-being.’

Also Read: Speech on The Best Day of My Life  

Long Speech on Social Media Bane or Book

‘I welcome you all present here. Allow me to present myself on Speech on Social Media Bane or Boon. Social Media has become an integral part of our everyday lives. What’s going on around the world can all be figured out in seconds on the social media platforms. But social media is not meant for everyone and not everyone can operate it.

That was just one side of social media, for there is another, which must not be neglected. The increase in fake news, misinformation, and online scams has underscored the need for critical thinking and digital literacy to discern the authenticity of information shared on these platforms.

The addictive nature of social media leads to increased levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation among users, highlighting the importance of fostering a healthy balance between online engagement and real-life interactions.

Social media’s algorithms create echo chambers, which reinforce our existing beliefs and perspectives while limiting exposure to diverse viewpoints, leading to heightened polarization and a decreased willingness to engage in constructive dialogue and compromise.

At last, the bane and boon of social media must be understood in equal measure to ensure a healthy and responsible digital environment, promote digital literacy, and encourage mindful and balanced use of these platforms.

Sometimes using social media is very simple; we open an application and search for any information or a product. Social media has allowed us to express ourselves, share our stories, and engage in meaningful dialogues.

There is no doubt that social media has democratized the flow of information, allowing marginalized communities to voice their concerns, advocate for social justice, and catalyze movements for positive change. 

Social media platforms have transformed the dynamics of business and marketing, providing organizations with an unprecedented opportunity to reach a vast audience and promote their products and services. 

Also Read: World Social Media Day

Popular Quotes and Slogans on Social Media Bane or Boon

Here are some popular quotes or slogans on social media bane or boon. Feel free to use them anywhere.

‘Real Connections, Not Just Reactions: Navigating Social Media Wisely.’

‘From Likes to Real Life: Embracing the True Meaning of Connection.’

‘Online Empowerment, Offline Engagement: Harnessing the Power of Social Media.’

‘Filtering Facts, Fighting Fake News: Unveiling the Truth Behind the Posts.’

‘Beyond the Screen: Cultivating Relationships That Transcend Social Media.’

Ans: The bane and boon concept has been highlighted by debate competitions. Social media Bane signifies something that causes negative sides of using it, which causes distress, harm, or ruin. Boon refers to the positive sides of social media, which are beneficial, advantageous, or favorable.

Ans: Social media platforms facilitate instant communication and connectivity, serve as a vital tool for sharing information, and news, offer businesses a powerful platform for marketing their products and services, and enable the creation of communities and networks based on shared interests, values, and goals. Also, Social media is an excellent platform for educational services.

Ans: Cyberbullying, online harassment, the spread of misinformation and false news, privacy breaches, data leaks, and increased rates of depression, anxiety, and feelings of inadequacy, due to its excessive use, are some of the major drawbacks of social media.

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Shiva Tyagi

With an experience of over a year, I've developed a passion for writing blogs on wide range of topics. I am mostly inspired from topics related to social and environmental fields, where you come up with a positive outcome.

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Population: Boon or Bane

  Syllabus: Population related issues

Source: TH  

Context: According to the UNFPA State of World Population (SOWP) Report 2023, China is projected to hand over the baton of the most populous country to India by mid-2023.

Highlights of the UN report: India will have a population of 142.86 crores by mid-2023 , which is 2.9 million higher than China’s population of 142.57 crores.

Is it a dividend or a disaster for India? To answer this, there is a need to understand the –

Nature of population growth, size:

• Population is a resource as long as the country’s carrying capacity is intact.
• Carrying capacity is not just per capita availability of natural resources, it is a dynamic concept that changes according to changing technology, and the efficiency of the production and consumption systems of a country.

Case of India:

• With a total fertility rate of 2. 0 in 2023 , India is already at replacement level fertility , meaning two children replacing their parents.
• This indicates that the population is on a path toward stabilisation – experiencing positive growth (in a decelerated mode) until 2064 and then will become negative growth .
• The peak of India’s population size will be around 169. 6 crore in 2063.

Age composition of the population: It talks about the number of the working age population (15-64 years) against the dependent population (0-14 years and 65 years and above).

• There are greater prospects for demographic dividend than a disaster.
• With 68% of the working age population in 2023, the country continues to have a demographic window of opportunity for the next 35 years to reap an economic dividend.
• A demographic window of opportunity in itself will not automatically turn into an economic dividend .

Mechanisms through which a country translates demographic bonus into economic dividend:

• Employment or job creation : If India is able to generate sufficient and quality jobs for its bulging working age population.
• Education, skills generation and ensuring a healthy lifespan : It is critical not only for better productivity but it also reduces excessive public spending and helps in greater capital creation.
• Good governance : Reflected through conscientious policies, it will help in creating a healthy environment for increasing efficiency and productivity of the population.

Opportunities for India:

• Potential to become a worldwide market for both production and consumption , with lower manufacturing costs due to a relatively cheaper workforce.
• This is very much evident in India’s IT sector.
• Potential to boost per capita GDP by an additional 43% by 2061 , provided the socio-economic and political enabling environment is conducive.

Challenges:

• A total fertility rate of less than 8 may not be economically beneficial for India. Once fertility tends to decline, it is hard to reverse it.
• If India falls short in this, its “ demographic dividend ” can become a “demographic disaster”.

  Conclusion: Opportunities and costs are the two sides of the coin when it comes to being the world’s largest populous country. However, the relatively younger population of India provides higher support ratios.

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UN population report: India becomes world’s most populous nation

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