There is a danger of people being manipulated by social media, says N. Ravi
N. Ravi, Chairman of the Chennai Institute of Journalism, warned that social media's reach can manipulate public opinion and create societal echo chambers. He noted that the deluge of unverified information makes it difficult for users to distinguish reliable news from bias.
Why it matters
The commentary addresses the critical challenge of media literacy and the potential for social media to fuel political polarization and violence.
There is a danger of people being manipulated by social media with its vast reach, said N. Ravi, Chairman, Chennai Institute of Journalism (CIJ), and Director, Kasturi and Sons Limited.
Delivering the 2026 batch commencement lecture at the CIJ on Monday, Mr. Ravi said: “It (social media) may also divide society into smaller and smaller groups, each functioning within its own echo chamber, hearing only the voices of its members, and cut off from diverse voices outside. Some groups may build up resentment over some issue or the other that may break out into violence, as the group that thought Donald Trump had won the American presidential election and stormed the U.S. Capitol.”
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