Social media powerful tool, needs to be moderated: Experts

Agra, Mar 18: Stressing the need for moderating the "powerful tool" that is social media, experts have said it should be guided keeping the "larger national interest and public concerns" in mind.

At a conference on internet and mass media here yesterday, participants said the growing influence and reach of online and social media platforms was visible but it also raises concerns over unverified and unauthenticated content going viral.

Speakers at the meet here yesterday organised by Central Hindi Institute, which functions under the Union HRD Ministry, said "if these powerful tools are not moderated by social concern and guided by larger national interests, there could be trouble all around".

Abhishek Mehrotra, editor of the portal Samachar4media.com, said, "The impact of social media on mainstream media is already beginning to be felt and is changing the game fundamentally.

"As the penetration of internet increases with newer and better technological inputs, the Indian masses will use them to influence policy decisions, as is already happening."

Piyush Pandey, social media consultant and senior journalist, said, "The audience stands empowered today largely due to access to internet and use of social media platforms like Facebook." Deepak Paliwal of IBN7 pressed for checks on social media platforms.

"A continuous programme to educate the users would be in the interest of society," he said. Rakesh Upadhyaya of Aaj Tak, said, "Smartphones have significantly changed the information landscape with multi- directional traffic movement.

"But if information is posted without verifying the contents, it could prove counter-productive."

PTI