Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Social media platforms have become an integral part of modern life, offering numerous benefits such as communication, information sharing, and entertainment. However, their rapid growth and widespread adoption have also raised serious ethical concerns related to individual privacy and public accountability.

Body

Ethical Implications of Social Media:

• Individual Privacy
  • Data Breaches and Identity Theft: The increasing number of data breaches on social media platforms has led to the exposure of sensitive personal information, making individuals vulnerable to identity theft, financial fraud, and other harms.
    • In 2018, the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) filed a case against Cambridge Analytica for illegally harvesting and misusing the personal data of 5.62 lakh Indian Facebook users.
  • Algorithmic Bias: The algorithms used by social media platforms can perpetuate biases, leading to the amplification of certain viewpoints and the suppression of others.
    • This can have a negative impact on individual privacy and freedom of expression.
    • During the 2019 Indian general elections, research by the BBC found that Twitter's algorithm tended to amplify more polarizing political content.
  • Surveillance Capitalism: The business model of many social media platforms is based on "surveillance capitalism," where user data is monetized through targeted advertising.
    • This raises concerns about the extent to which individuals are being surveilled and exploited for commercial gain.
  • Deepfakes and Misinformation: The spread of deep fakes, manipulated videos or images that can be used to spread misinformation or harm individuals' reputations, is another ethical concern associated with social media.
    • Bollywood Actors like Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh have both been the subject of deepfakes during the 2024 Indian election.
• Public Accountability
  • Political Manipulation: Social media platforms have been accused of enabling foreign interference in elections and the spread of political misinformation.
    • This raises questions about the role of social media companies in ensuring the integrity of democratic processes.
  • Online Harassment and Cyberbullying: Social media can be a breeding ground for online harassment and cyberbullying, leading to negative mental health outcomes for individuals and communities.
    • Platforms act as third-party agents, shielding themselves from any accountability.
  • Government Overreach: Governments may use social media platforms to monitor citizens, suppress dissent, and spread propaganda.
    • Russia is being alleged to increasingly turn to American social media stars to covertly influence voters ahead of the 2024 USA Presidential Elections.
    • This raises concerns about the potential for government overreach and the erosion of democratic values.
  • Lack of Content Moderation: Social media platforms often struggle to effectively moderate harmful content. The controversy surrounding Twitter Content Moderation Policies, as raised by the European Union, highlights the gravity of the issue.

Conclusion

The ethical implications of social media are complex and multifaceted. While these platforms offer numerous benefits, they also pose significant risks to individual privacy and public accountability. Addressing these concerns requires a collaborative effort involving social media companies, governments, and individuals and steadfast implementation of Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.