‘Social media has emerged as a big unknown power’… It can also destroy overnight
Actor and Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan discussed social media as an unpredictable force that can quickly amplify issues and also accelerate backlash and misinformation.
- Social media platforms can spread messages faster than traditional media, making public opinion shift quickly.
- Backlash and misinformation can damage public discourse by polarising discussions and spreading false or misleading claims.
- Digital platforms can change how political messages reach people, increasing both visibility and reputational harm risks.
- The discussion was part of an Idea Exchange conversation in a newsroom setting, linked to themes about political communication in the digital age.
What happened
An Idea Exchange feature centered on actor and Member of Parliament Ravi Kishan discussing social media’s influence. The discussion highlighted two outcomes of social media platforms: (1) social media’s capacity to create visibility for voices and issues, and (2) social media’s potential to harm public discourse quickly, including through backlash and misinformation. The feature also placed the discussion in the context of a digital-age conversation about how public opinion and political messaging work.
Background and earlier position
UPSC can frame social media’s “unknown power” as a governance-ethics challenge: how quickly platforms can shape narratives, and how responsibility for truthful, non-violent and fair communication should be handled in democratic debate.