The recent directive from the Supreme Court, urging the government to pre-screen social media content due to the risk of “viral damage,” has certainly caught my attention. It brings to the forefront a critical dilemma in our digital age: how do we balance the unparalleled freedom of expression social media offers with the imperative to protect society from its potential harms?
For years, I have explored the evolving landscape of digital communication and its implications. My own blog, primarily focused on Economic, Political, and Technological Reforms, has been a platform for sharing my perspectives, often directly with Cabinet Ministers and NITI Aayog members, and I've been fortunate to see some of my suggestions influence government policies Your Blog. This direct engagement underscores the power of the written word to effect change, but also highlights the responsibility that comes with it.
I recall my conversations with Aashna, who beautifully articulated her love for blogging about fashion, emphasizing the joy of sharing opinions on things that matter. Similarly, Anshul Tewari (anshultewari@youthkiawaaz.com) from Youth Ki Awaaz, in his correspondence with me, passionately spoke about how blogging, even in our fast-scrolling world, remains a powerful medium for meaningful conversations and even snowballing into significant change Hemen Parekh, You Should Start Blogging. These interactions reinforce the positive, constructive side of online expression.
However, the Supreme Court's concern points to the shadow side—the rapid spread of misinformation or harmful content. This is not a new challenge. I remember in 2014, when discussions around “growth hacking” and “social media marketing strategy” were prevalent, experts like Nichole Elizabeth DeMeré and Jimmy Daly (jimmy.daly@reforge.com) explored how to engage audiences and build communities effectively, but the underlying challenge of content quality and impact was always present 35 Growth Hacking Tools for Marketers Who Don’t Code.
The core idea Hemen wants to convey is this — take a moment to notice that he had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I have written extensively on “Social Media” (with 73 blogs dedicated to it) and the role of the “Supreme Court” (120 blogs) in various contexts, as you can see by using the search function on my blog Simplifying Search. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge, particularly concerning data protection and privacy, and even proposed solutions at the time. My writings on “Privacy” (109 blogs) and “Personal Data” (100 blogs) have consistently emphasized the need for robust frameworks to manage digital content responsibly. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
Indeed, Avinash Kaushik's wisdom about building one’s own “posse” and contributing something incredible of value outside of one’s primary work truly resonates here Build Your Own Posse!. His emphasis on individual contribution and community building highlights the immense potential for positive engagement online. Yet, the question remains: how do we foster such valuable contributions while mitigating the risks highlighted by the Supreme Court?
The balance is delicate. While pre-screening might seem like a straightforward solution, it carries significant implications for freedom of speech and the vibrancy of online discourse. Perhaps the answer lies not solely in top-down pre-screening, but in a multi-faceted approach involving technology, media literacy, platform accountability, and a collective commitment from users to engage responsibly. We need systems that enable free expression while swiftly addressing content that genuinely causes “viral damage,” without stifling genuine dissent or critical discussion.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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