SM POLITICS

Is abusive social media the new political tool?

social-media-abuse-rep-pix Representational Image

As news of journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder on Tuesday evening started trickling in, social media erupted. There was a widespread outpouring of grief and shock. The keyboards buzzed with highly polarising views on who could have killed her.

Some rejoiced at her death as they did not agree with her political views. Nature of one’s political viewpoint now defines the empathy one may get even in death.

There was an online backlash as some Twitter users, who are followed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mouthed obscenities and abuse over the journalist’s death. Twitterati started an online campaign #BlockNarendraModi aimed at unfollowing Modi and block his micro-blogging account if he continued to follow some of the abusive users.

It forced IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to condemn the hate tweets on the Lankesh murder.

“Expressing happiness on the killing of anyone is shameful, regrettable and totally against Indian traditions. Social media is not for that,” he tweeted.

“I strongly condemn & deplore the messages on social media expressing happiness on the dastardly murder of #Gaurilankesh,” Prasad said in a series of tweets. His message was widely accepted by many on Twitter, but some active members of the right wing questioned him on it.

As elections are to be held in Karnataka next year, it was a worrying sign for the BJP that it was facing a backlash in aftermath of the murder.

The Congress hit back by saying, “While we fight trolls, PM Modi ignites them. The only thing that is contorted is his silence on issues that haunt the nation.”

Just when BJP appeared to be on the backfoot, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh came with an equaliser―answering abuse with abuse. He put out an offensive tweet with a caveat, "Not mine but couldn't help posting it. My apologies to the person concerned. He is the best in the “Art of Fooling!”"

The tweet was aimed at Modi with his picture on the post, on which abusive words were used.

Singh's offensive tweet on PM Modi marked a new low in political discourse. The high moral ground from which the party was targeting the BJP was lost with a single tweet.

The provocative messages in social media give momentary high to supporters but coming from public figures is often denounced.

New battlegrounds

Social media, especially Twitter, has been a battleground of internet warriors on each side of the political divide, with even neutral players too getting sucked into the emotional debates. As 140 characters are sufficient to express one's view, extreme words follow.

India has over 1.2 billion mobile phone users in the country. With easy access to data and smart phones, social media has changed the way politics is developing in the country. It was apparent in 2014 when social media was widely used by Modi to reach out to people across the country. He used the medium effectively to connect with people, while those from the Opposition parties are yet to tame the platform.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had told his party MPs that the 2019 elections will be fought through mobile phones. Anyone who is able to control the content and narrative on social media accessed through mobile phones had a chance in the elections.

It is not without reason that BJP chief Amit Shah insists on party leaders having their social media accounts, and in some cases also insisted as a prerequisite to get a ticket in the elections.

A look at our own smartphones would reveal how ubiquitous the political messaging is. Among the WhatsApp groups, the kind of messages, jokes and videos one gets, they come laced with political undertones. The messages that dominate the medium is likely to dominate the mind space.

The BJP leads with keeping the narrative on its side with effective use of its online warriors.

Aam Admi Party whose online presence and belligerence is often considered as counter to the BJP's strength in the virtual world.

Congress is trying hard to become a talking point on social media, with little success.

Other parties are discovering social media, but are not as effective as the ruling party.

The abusive content on social media heightens around every election. Until political leaders advise their supporters to use language wisely, the disturbing online behaviour will continue to increase.

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