Social media becoming double-edged sword

The online hate campaign targeting people from the northeast has put the spotlight on the power of the social media network in India, which counts more than 60 million users, and how this burgeoning community can be manipulated for insidious propaganda.

The unprecedented exodus of people from the northeast, abetted by hate messages, has also opened the debate about issues related to internet freedom and content regulation. India, which is looking into the alleged role of Pakistan-based elements in using morphed images on internet, has blocked over 250 websites for orchestrating the online campaign of hatred.

The last two years have seen an explosion of social media in the country with overwhelmingly young users. According to a report by iCRossing, nearly 36 million people in the country use Facebook. Of these, nearly 50 percent users are aged below 50. Estimates for 2012 posted on the India pages of various network sites show that microblogging site Twitter and LinkedIn have nearly 15 million users each in India.

This mushrooming is a double-edged sword. Social media has created a vibrant online community and widened public discourse, allowing a platform for activists with a thousand causes.

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The wide spectrum of subscribers' database which cuts social and language divides - with Facebook using Hindi as one its languages - has the potential to make the networks national security risk.

Not every user is discerning and the fact that there are no entry barriers makes the sites porous. Anyone can log in.

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Social media 'could cut suicide'

Social media sites should be harnessed to help prevent suicide among young people, according to researchers................

In the past, internet sites have been criticised for encouraging self-harm. But the report says new media could instead be used to direct young people to seek help....

Now the researchers say the possible dangers posed by new media could be counteracted if the sites provided support for vulnerable young people.

They say because it is still a relatively new phenomenon, it is important to understand why internet postings can influence some young people to self-harm or take their own life.........

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Missing Nashik girls traced to Punjab, brought back

Two minor girls who had gone missing two weeks ago, lured to Punjab by friends they made on a social networking website, were traced by cops to Punjab and brought home on Tuesday.

 According to police officials girls and women are being lured, abused and threatened through social networking sites on a large scale but most of the time the victims are reluctant to file complaint fearing it may bring disrepute to their families..........

The girls had gone missing from their homes two weeks back. The girls left their respective homes saying that they were going to give their examinations. One of the girls also stole some cash and jewellery from her home. The boyfriend of one of the girls, who she had met on a social networking website, resided in Punjab...........

It was revealed that the girls were internet geeks and used to constantly chat with strangers online.........

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