News Analysis India

Tag: social media

  • Gujarat: Parties extensively use social media to connect with voters, run poll campaigns 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Teams of thousands of workers and volunteers are keeping the social media pages of different political parties abuzz like a well-oiled machine to run campaigns and garner support of target voters for the next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat. 

    If the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relies on its established network of followers on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are using popular messaging platform WhatsApp extensively to reach out to voters on the grassroots level.

    BJP’s social media campaigns are focused on highlighting the achievements of the party-led government in Gujarat during the last two decades.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as Gujarat CM from 2001 to 2014.

    The saffron outfit is also tapping into the emotive issue of Gujarati pride through the newly-launched campaign “Aa Gujarat Me Banavyu Chhe (I have created this Gujarat).

    The Congress, on the other hand, is harking back to the era when it ruled the state, the contributions its governments made for development of the state and how the BJP has done nothing in its 27 years of rule, a party office-bearer told PTI.

    The AAP has created a narrative around the party’s numerous “guarantees” announced by its national convener Arvind Kejriwal during his poll campaigns in the state and is relying extensively on WhatsApp to connect with voters, a party functionary said.

    Manan Dani, social media co-in-charge of the BJP, said, “We have run five campaigns so far, and we will be running a few more in the coming days. We keep changing our campaigns every week to present something new to the people.”

    He said the party started the 2022 Gujarat Assembly poll campaign around six months back with the tagline in local language – “20 Varas No Viswas, 20 Varas No Vikas” (trust and development of the last 20 years).

    The ruling party has run campaigns like “Modiji Na Suwarn 20 Saal (20 golden years of Modi)”, “Vande Bharat”, “Aa Gujarat Main Banayu Chhe”, “BJP etle Bharoso (BJP means trust)” among others, in the run-up to the election, Dani told PTI.

    The Gujarat BJP uses more than 15 applications in its voter outreach drives.

    The saffron party has over 35 lakh followers on Facebook, 57.8 lakh on Instagram, 1.5 million on Twitter and 45,600 on YouTube.

    As against this, the Congress has 7 lakh followers on Facebook, 64.3 lakh on Instagram, 1,64,000 on Twitter and 8,91,000 on YouTube. The AAP has 5.67 lakh followers on Facebook, 1.17 lakh followers on Instagram.

    While the state AAP does not have a separate YouTube page, it relies on its national YouTube page which has 42.3 lakh followers.

    The BJP has a team of more than 20,000 workers and more than 60,000 volunteers running its social media campaigns, Dani said.

    Congress Social Media Department chairman Keyur Shah told PTI the party has drawn up a strategy to run a targeted campaign, that is, making pages on social media platforms that are specific to particular Assembly seats and communities, to raise issues that affect people of that particular constituency.

    The party is relying heavily on WhatsApp to run its campaign and target voters at grassroots level, he said.

    “We have formed around 50,000 WhatsApp groups at booth and village levels. These include booth-level workers, but also social community-wise groups for different seats. We have groups of Thakor, Patidar, Adivasi communities. We put targeted content on these groups,” Shah explained.

    The Congress functionary said the opposition party is highlighting “failures” of BJP governments in Gujarat.

    “People want to know what the previous Congress governments did for them, and how nothing new was added by the successive BJP governments.”

    Congress nu kaam bole chhe (works of Congress speak for themselves)” is the central campaign theme for the party.

    “The party hired agencies to create content. Apart from party officials, 10,000-12,000 volunteers are working round the clock for the organisation at local levels,” Shah said.

    The AAP’s social media campaigns rely heavily on volunteers consisting of young college students and professionals, said Dr Safin Hasan, social media in-charge of the party in Gujarat. WhatsApp remains the major focus of the party for social media campaigns, he said.

    The Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit has a core team of 25 youngsters to look after its social media campaigns.

    Apart from this, the AAP has around 20,000 ‘social media warriors’ who are not necessarily full-time party workers but support it on different platforms by helping run campaigns and spread its messages, Hasan said.

    “We have created thousands of WhatsApp groups. We are spreading our agenda, party vision, manifesto, guarantees, and activities on the ground using WhatsApp extensively. We have multi-level groups at Assembly constituency and village levels,” he said.

    Facebook page of Isudan Gadhvi, the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, is doing better than other parties in Gujarat, Hasan claimed.

    “We are a party with very limited resources and therefore we rely heavily on volunteers. We have strengthened volunteers at village level by providing them training on how to use social media platforms,” said the AAP functionary.

    Voting to elect a new 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases – December 1 and 5 – and ballots will be counted on December 8.

    AHMEDABAD: Teams of thousands of workers and volunteers are keeping the social media pages of different political parties abuzz like a well-oiled machine to run campaigns and garner support of target voters for the next month’s Assembly elections in Gujarat. 

    If the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) relies on its established network of followers on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Instagram, the opposition Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are using popular messaging platform WhatsApp extensively to reach out to voters on the grassroots level.

    BJP’s social media campaigns are focused on highlighting the achievements of the party-led government in Gujarat during the last two decades.

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi served as Gujarat CM from 2001 to 2014.

    The saffron outfit is also tapping into the emotive issue of Gujarati pride through the newly-launched campaign “Aa Gujarat Me Banavyu Chhe (I have created this Gujarat).

    The Congress, on the other hand, is harking back to the era when it ruled the state, the contributions its governments made for development of the state and how the BJP has done nothing in its 27 years of rule, a party office-bearer told PTI.

    The AAP has created a narrative around the party’s numerous “guarantees” announced by its national convener Arvind Kejriwal during his poll campaigns in the state and is relying extensively on WhatsApp to connect with voters, a party functionary said.

    Manan Dani, social media co-in-charge of the BJP, said, “We have run five campaigns so far, and we will be running a few more in the coming days. We keep changing our campaigns every week to present something new to the people.”

    He said the party started the 2022 Gujarat Assembly poll campaign around six months back with the tagline in local language – “20 Varas No Viswas, 20 Varas No Vikas” (trust and development of the last 20 years).

    The ruling party has run campaigns like “Modiji Na Suwarn 20 Saal (20 golden years of Modi)”, “Vande Bharat”, “Aa Gujarat Main Banayu Chhe”, “BJP etle Bharoso (BJP means trust)” among others, in the run-up to the election, Dani told PTI.

    The Gujarat BJP uses more than 15 applications in its voter outreach drives.

    The saffron party has over 35 lakh followers on Facebook, 57.8 lakh on Instagram, 1.5 million on Twitter and 45,600 on YouTube.

    As against this, the Congress has 7 lakh followers on Facebook, 64.3 lakh on Instagram, 1,64,000 on Twitter and 8,91,000 on YouTube. The AAP has 5.67 lakh followers on Facebook, 1.17 lakh followers on Instagram.

    While the state AAP does not have a separate YouTube page, it relies on its national YouTube page which has 42.3 lakh followers.

    The BJP has a team of more than 20,000 workers and more than 60,000 volunteers running its social media campaigns, Dani said.

    Congress Social Media Department chairman Keyur Shah told PTI the party has drawn up a strategy to run a targeted campaign, that is, making pages on social media platforms that are specific to particular Assembly seats and communities, to raise issues that affect people of that particular constituency.

    The party is relying heavily on WhatsApp to run its campaign and target voters at grassroots level, he said.

    “We have formed around 50,000 WhatsApp groups at booth and village levels. These include booth-level workers, but also social community-wise groups for different seats. We have groups of Thakor, Patidar, Adivasi communities. We put targeted content on these groups,” Shah explained.

    The Congress functionary said the opposition party is highlighting “failures” of BJP governments in Gujarat.

    “People want to know what the previous Congress governments did for them, and how nothing new was added by the successive BJP governments.”

    Congress nu kaam bole chhe (works of Congress speak for themselves)” is the central campaign theme for the party.

    “The party hired agencies to create content. Apart from party officials, 10,000-12,000 volunteers are working round the clock for the organisation at local levels,” Shah said.

    The AAP’s social media campaigns rely heavily on volunteers consisting of young college students and professionals, said Dr Safin Hasan, social media in-charge of the party in Gujarat. WhatsApp remains the major focus of the party for social media campaigns, he said.

    The Arvind Kejriwal-led outfit has a core team of 25 youngsters to look after its social media campaigns.

    Apart from this, the AAP has around 20,000 ‘social media warriors’ who are not necessarily full-time party workers but support it on different platforms by helping run campaigns and spread its messages, Hasan said.

    “We have created thousands of WhatsApp groups. We are spreading our agenda, party vision, manifesto, guarantees, and activities on the ground using WhatsApp extensively. We have multi-level groups at Assembly constituency and village levels,” he said.

    Facebook page of Isudan Gadhvi, the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate, is doing better than other parties in Gujarat, Hasan claimed.

    “We are a party with very limited resources and therefore we rely heavily on volunteers. We have strengthened volunteers at village level by providing them training on how to use social media platforms,” said the AAP functionary.

    Voting to elect a new 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases – December 1 and 5 – and ballots will be counted on December 8.

  • Muzzling free speech or legit controls? Social media politics divides govt, activists, experts

    By IANS

    AGARTALA:  Sometimes in favour of militant outfits, occasionally against government or political personalities, on a few occasions on controversial issues, social media posts now and then put people behind the bars, but some men and women continue to post in various social media on various issues.

    Social media experts said that there are both positive and negative sides in the social media posts. However, like the traditional media there must be a controlling and monitoring authority for the social media to curb the destructive and harmful posts.

    A young wushu player and boxer Maina Chutia, 23, college students Barshashree Buragohain, 19, Bitupan Changmai, 22, Pramod Kalita, 22 were separately arrested in Assam since May this year for allegedly commenting in Facebook posts in support of banned terror outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) headed by Paresh Baruah.

    Many people criticised the government for arresting them, while their families claimed that their poems and posts were not provocative.

    The poem written by Barshashree has no direct reference to the terror outfit. However, the FIR against her mentioned that the poem was an implicit endorsement of the ULFA-I, a banned extremist organisation, and pointed towards a larger “criminal conspiracy” and “intent to wage war against the Indian government”.

    Barshashree, who was accused of “supporting” ULFA-I, was granted bail recently by the Gauhati High Court. Following criticism from a large section of people, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said: “Barshashree was given protection from destroying her life.”

    “One must remember many people have been given death sentences in the ULFA-I camp, which may not be even known to the outfit leader Paresh Baruah.”

    Sarma added: “The girl was repenting for her action and the family has also assured that they will take care so that she should not indulge in such type of activities in future.”

    The Assam police under the Cyberdrome Project monitored social media platforms and found 990 “objectionable posts” by such brainwashed youths during 2021-2022.

    The Chief Minister recently said in the Assembly that on the basis of such posts, the police have registered around 100 cases across the state and 85 people were arrested while 581 others were counselled in the presence of their parents and guardians.

    Around 400 social media posts were removed from different platforms, he had told the House.

    The Assam police in April last year had arrested Guwahati based writer Sikha Sarma for allegedly making controversial comments against Martyrs on social media.

    Police officials said that the 48-year-old Assamese writer was arrested on various charges including sedition for her alleged Facebook post on security forces after 22 security personnel were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh in early April last year.

    Sarma was arrested following an FIR lodged by two lawyers — Umi Deka Baruah and Kangkana Goswami.

    Police officials said that she was arrested on charges of sedition, violation of the Information Technology Act and under other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

    According to the police Sarma had allegedly written on Facebook : “Salaried professionals who die in the line of duty cannot be termed martyrs. Going by that logic, electricity department workers who die of electrocution should also be labelled martyrs. Do not make people sentimental, the media.”

    In her Facebook page, Sarma, who was later granted bail by the court, said: “Isn’t it a crime to harass me by giving the wrong interpretation of my posts? Will they come under the law for the false slander against me?”

    Assam Congress leaders had said the law will take its own course as police have arrested Sarma, but some people have threatened to gang rape her and police should also take action against them.

    The Gauhati High Court released her on bail of Rs 30,000 with conditions, directing her to refrain from committing any similar offence in future.

    In Manipur, activists Erendro Leichombam and Wangkhemcha Wangthoi were arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) in July last year for his Facebook post criticising BJP leaders for advocating cow dung and cow urine as a cure for Covid-19.

    Subsequently, the Supreme Court and the Manipur High Court ordered the release of Leichombam and Wangthoi respectively.

    The duo were arrested following a complaint filed against Leichombam and Wangthoi by Manipur state BJP vice-president Usham Deban and general secretary P. Premananda Meetei, accusing both the activists of posting “offensive comments” referring to the death of state BJP president Saikhom Tikendra Singh, who succumbed to Covid-19 in a hospital in Imphal on May 13 last year.

    Leichombam and Wangthoi had been arrested twice earlier on charges of sedition and for making various posts on social media against the government.

    Leichombam, educated abroad, is the founder of the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance, a political party whose candidate in the 2017 Manipur elections included rights activist Irom Sharmila. He had also unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls in 2017.

    Rights activists and various Manipur-based organisations and elsewhere in the country had then criticised the government for “overreacting”.

    Social media and security expert Mans Paul said that like the traditional and institutional media, there must be a controlling authority and mechanism to curb the destructive, depressing and harmful posts, photographs and visuals.

    “However, social media posts are always not harmful and destructive, sometimes these posts do constructive criticism and properly guide the traditional and institutional print and electronic media,” Paul, who authored a few books on security affairs, told IANS.

    He said that some people with a purpose and plan make posts in social media, but some people without knowing a particular issue and event randomly make posts in various social media.

    During Durga Puja festivities last year and after incidents of communal violence in Bangladesh, provocative social media posts both in Bangladesh and India created some unrest on both sides of the border.

    As per media reports, mob violence erupted in Comilla in October last year after unconfirmed posts went viral on social media about the alleged desecration of the Quran at a Durga Puja venue, following which Hindu temples were vandalised.

    Reports quoting Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad, said in the communal violence in Bangladesh at least six people were killed and many injured, while at least 70 Hindu temples and scores of houses and property were damaged in six districts across that country.

    AGARTALA:  Sometimes in favour of militant outfits, occasionally against government or political personalities, on a few occasions on controversial issues, social media posts now and then put people behind the bars, but some men and women continue to post in various social media on various issues.

    Social media experts said that there are both positive and negative sides in the social media posts. However, like the traditional media there must be a controlling and monitoring authority for the social media to curb the destructive and harmful posts.

    A young wushu player and boxer Maina Chutia, 23, college students Barshashree Buragohain, 19, Bitupan Changmai, 22, Pramod Kalita, 22 were separately arrested in Assam since May this year for allegedly commenting in Facebook posts in support of banned terror outfit United Liberation Front of Asom-Independent (ULFA-I) headed by Paresh Baruah.

    Many people criticised the government for arresting them, while their families claimed that their poems and posts were not provocative.

    The poem written by Barshashree has no direct reference to the terror outfit. However, the FIR against her mentioned that the poem was an implicit endorsement of the ULFA-I, a banned extremist organisation, and pointed towards a larger “criminal conspiracy” and “intent to wage war against the Indian government”.

    Barshashree, who was accused of “supporting” ULFA-I, was granted bail recently by the Gauhati High Court. Following criticism from a large section of people, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said: “Barshashree was given protection from destroying her life.”

    “One must remember many people have been given death sentences in the ULFA-I camp, which may not be even known to the outfit leader Paresh Baruah.”

    Sarma added: “The girl was repenting for her action and the family has also assured that they will take care so that she should not indulge in such type of activities in future.”

    The Assam police under the Cyberdrome Project monitored social media platforms and found 990 “objectionable posts” by such brainwashed youths during 2021-2022.

    The Chief Minister recently said in the Assembly that on the basis of such posts, the police have registered around 100 cases across the state and 85 people were arrested while 581 others were counselled in the presence of their parents and guardians.

    Around 400 social media posts were removed from different platforms, he had told the House.

    The Assam police in April last year had arrested Guwahati based writer Sikha Sarma for allegedly making controversial comments against Martyrs on social media.

    Police officials said that the 48-year-old Assamese writer was arrested on various charges including sedition for her alleged Facebook post on security forces after 22 security personnel were killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh in early April last year.

    Sarma was arrested following an FIR lodged by two lawyers — Umi Deka Baruah and Kangkana Goswami.

    Police officials said that she was arrested on charges of sedition, violation of the Information Technology Act and under other sections of the Indian Penal Code.

    According to the police Sarma had allegedly written on Facebook : “Salaried professionals who die in the line of duty cannot be termed martyrs. Going by that logic, electricity department workers who die of electrocution should also be labelled martyrs. Do not make people sentimental, the media.”

    In her Facebook page, Sarma, who was later granted bail by the court, said: “Isn’t it a crime to harass me by giving the wrong interpretation of my posts? Will they come under the law for the false slander against me?”

    Assam Congress leaders had said the law will take its own course as police have arrested Sarma, but some people have threatened to gang rape her and police should also take action against them.

    The Gauhati High Court released her on bail of Rs 30,000 with conditions, directing her to refrain from committing any similar offence in future.

    In Manipur, activists Erendro Leichombam and Wangkhemcha Wangthoi were arrested under the National Security Act (NSA) in July last year for his Facebook post criticising BJP leaders for advocating cow dung and cow urine as a cure for Covid-19.

    Subsequently, the Supreme Court and the Manipur High Court ordered the release of Leichombam and Wangthoi respectively.

    The duo were arrested following a complaint filed against Leichombam and Wangthoi by Manipur state BJP vice-president Usham Deban and general secretary P. Premananda Meetei, accusing both the activists of posting “offensive comments” referring to the death of state BJP president Saikhom Tikendra Singh, who succumbed to Covid-19 in a hospital in Imphal on May 13 last year.

    Leichombam and Wangthoi had been arrested twice earlier on charges of sedition and for making various posts on social media against the government.

    Leichombam, educated abroad, is the founder of the People’s Resurgence and Justice Alliance, a political party whose candidate in the 2017 Manipur elections included rights activist Irom Sharmila. He had also unsuccessfully contested the Assembly polls in 2017.

    Rights activists and various Manipur-based organisations and elsewhere in the country had then criticised the government for “overreacting”.

    Social media and security expert Mans Paul said that like the traditional and institutional media, there must be a controlling authority and mechanism to curb the destructive, depressing and harmful posts, photographs and visuals.

    “However, social media posts are always not harmful and destructive, sometimes these posts do constructive criticism and properly guide the traditional and institutional print and electronic media,” Paul, who authored a few books on security affairs, told IANS.

    He said that some people with a purpose and plan make posts in social media, but some people without knowing a particular issue and event randomly make posts in various social media.

    During Durga Puja festivities last year and after incidents of communal violence in Bangladesh, provocative social media posts both in Bangladesh and India created some unrest on both sides of the border.

    As per media reports, mob violence erupted in Comilla in October last year after unconfirmed posts went viral on social media about the alleged desecration of the Quran at a Durga Puja venue, following which Hindu temples were vandalised.

    Reports quoting Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha Christian Oikya Parishad, said in the communal violence in Bangladesh at least six people were killed and many injured, while at least 70 Hindu temples and scores of houses and property were damaged in six districts across that country.

  • Literature finds unlikely social media partner in TikTok

    By AFP

    FRANKFURT: Best-selling German author Sarah Sprinz’s series of young adult books have received a boost from an unlikely quarter: a community of literary enthusiasts on the social media platform TikTok.

    The #BookTok trend has exploded in recent times, with a growing number of readers posting reviews and engaging with writers, while authors use it to promote their works.

    To some, it seems counter-intuitive — a platform known for short and often light-hearted videos is not the obvious place to encourage an activity like reading that requires deep concentration.

    But videos with the hashtag have racked up billions of views, and helped to propel the popularity of some works, while bookshops are rushing to set up stands where creators can film videos.

    The trend “is super important for me”, Sprinz — author of the hit “Dunbridge Academy” series, set in a boarding school in Scotland — told AFP in an interview at the Frankfurt book fair.

    “Personally for me, I believe it played a role (in my success), because I have seen a lot of videos recommending my books.”

    The trend, which often sees creators post emotionally charged reviews of books, has been particularly effective in attracting a new audience of younger readers, said Sprinz.

    “I think it is nice that through TikTok, a completely new, younger target audience is becoming aware of reading,” said the 26-year-old.

     ‘Impact on book sales’

    According to TikTok — which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance –, #BookTok has received more than 84 billion video views to date on the platform, and successful genres include romance and fantasy.

    “#BookTok has become the place for book recommendations and discovery as well as for sharing reviews and tapping into fan culture,” said Tobias Henning, general manager, TikTok Germany and Central and Eastern Europe. It is also “having a real-world impact on book sales globally”, he added.

    One success credited to #BookTok is that of US author Colleen Hoover’s novel “It Ends With Us”, which saw sales soar after it gained traction in the community. A typical review shows a woman sobbing as she reads the novel, with music playing and a voiceover reading, “I’ve never cried for so long after a book.”

    With the clout of #BookTok growing, the annual Frankfurt fair, the world’s biggest publishing event, has made TikTok a partner for the first time. Several creators and enthusiasts are also in attendance.

    “I mostly do (Tiktok) content about books, mostly about novels, and I try to upload two videos a week,” TikTok user Sofia Reinbold, who came to the fair after reading about it on the platform, told AFP.

    The 17-year-old added she had received “feedback from people who have bought books after watching my videos”.

    ‘Multiplier’ effect

    For Sprinz, the #BookTok phenomenon is driven by the fact that TikTok is a visual platform, allowing people to show how they feel about a book.

    And people being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic may have accelerated the trend.

    “A lot of people perhaps felt a bit lonely and isolated,” she said, adding it was a good platform “to network again and find common hobbies like reading”.

    She also downplayed the suggestion there was somehow a contradiction between spending more time on social media and trying to promote literature, noting that people read in different ways nowadays, including on e-books and smartphones.

    But social media alone “cannot make a successful book”, she said. “TikTok and #BookTok are a kind of multiplier, and a good opportunity to pass on recommendations for books.” But “there must be more to it,” she said. “The book must of course be good.”

    FRANKFURT: Best-selling German author Sarah Sprinz’s series of young adult books have received a boost from an unlikely quarter: a community of literary enthusiasts on the social media platform TikTok.

    The #BookTok trend has exploded in recent times, with a growing number of readers posting reviews and engaging with writers, while authors use it to promote their works.

    To some, it seems counter-intuitive — a platform known for short and often light-hearted videos is not the obvious place to encourage an activity like reading that requires deep concentration.

    But videos with the hashtag have racked up billions of views, and helped to propel the popularity of some works, while bookshops are rushing to set up stands where creators can film videos.

    The trend “is super important for me”, Sprinz — author of the hit “Dunbridge Academy” series, set in a boarding school in Scotland — told AFP in an interview at the Frankfurt book fair.

    “Personally for me, I believe it played a role (in my success), because I have seen a lot of videos recommending my books.”

    The trend, which often sees creators post emotionally charged reviews of books, has been particularly effective in attracting a new audience of younger readers, said Sprinz.

    “I think it is nice that through TikTok, a completely new, younger target audience is becoming aware of reading,” said the 26-year-old.

     ‘Impact on book sales’

    According to TikTok — which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance –, #BookTok has received more than 84 billion video views to date on the platform, and successful genres include romance and fantasy.

    “#BookTok has become the place for book recommendations and discovery as well as for sharing reviews and tapping into fan culture,” said Tobias Henning, general manager, TikTok Germany and Central and Eastern Europe. It is also “having a real-world impact on book sales globally”, he added.

    One success credited to #BookTok is that of US author Colleen Hoover’s novel “It Ends With Us”, which saw sales soar after it gained traction in the community. A typical review shows a woman sobbing as she reads the novel, with music playing and a voiceover reading, “I’ve never cried for so long after a book.”

    With the clout of #BookTok growing, the annual Frankfurt fair, the world’s biggest publishing event, has made TikTok a partner for the first time. Several creators and enthusiasts are also in attendance.

    “I mostly do (Tiktok) content about books, mostly about novels, and I try to upload two videos a week,” TikTok user Sofia Reinbold, who came to the fair after reading about it on the platform, told AFP.

    The 17-year-old added she had received “feedback from people who have bought books after watching my videos”.

    ‘Multiplier’ effect

    For Sprinz, the #BookTok phenomenon is driven by the fact that TikTok is a visual platform, allowing people to show how they feel about a book.

    And people being stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic may have accelerated the trend.

    “A lot of people perhaps felt a bit lonely and isolated,” she said, adding it was a good platform “to network again and find common hobbies like reading”.

    She also downplayed the suggestion there was somehow a contradiction between spending more time on social media and trying to promote literature, noting that people read in different ways nowadays, including on e-books and smartphones.

    But social media alone “cannot make a successful book”, she said. “TikTok and #BookTok are a kind of multiplier, and a good opportunity to pass on recommendations for books.” But “there must be more to it,” she said. “The book must of course be good.”

  • India to host UNSC counter-terrorism meet for first time

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: India will be hosting the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting for the first time later this month. The agenda would be to focus on threats imposed by technology including social media.

    “All 15 permanent UNSC member states are expected to take part in this meeting spread over two days in Mumbai and Delhi (October 28th and 29th). The focus of the special meeting will be on addressing the use of new and emerging technologies for both terrorist purposes and for countering terrorism. This has been an issue of increasing concern for the Member States, policymakers and researchers,’’ say sources.

    New and emerging technologies – particularly information and communications technologies (ICT) such as the Internet, social media platforms, and financial technologies have become a favoured tool for terrorists such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/Da’esh, Al-Qaida, their affiliated groups, other terrorist organizations, and their supporters to engage in terrorism. The Member States already face a significant and growing threat including incitement to terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, recruitment, training, planning, networking, securing logistical support, acquiring weapons and their components, fundraising, and conducting terrorist operations.

    Other objectives include identifying continuing challenges, sharing good practices in compliance with international human rights laws, industry action, public-private partnerships,  legislative policy and regulatory responses, the UN said in a statement.

    “The three main areas of discussion would include the use of social media, terrorism financing and unmanned aerial system (UAS),’’ according to the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).

    With the growing prevalence of technology and the rapid rise in digitization, addressing the use of new and emerging technologies for both terrorist purposes, the UN Security Council has given focus to this issue in a number of counter-terrorism-related resolutions, most recently its resolution 2617 (2021), which specifically refers to “emerging technologies”.

    Terrorists move or store funds through the use of digital marketplaces and wallets, online payment platforms and applications, mobile payments or virtual currencies. There is also an increased risk of the abuse of the Internet by terrorist organizations for fundraising through crowdfunding, merchandise sales, donation appeals through social media platforms, and other methods. At the same time, innovations in financial technologies, products and services offer significant economic opportunities and provide effective tools to respond to emerging threats.

    Mindful of the increasing threat posed by the misuse of new and emerging technologies, this meeting will include the participation of relevant operational partners, including United Nations organizations, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), private-sector entities, and members of the Global Research Network (GRN) of the CTED.

    “The Special Meeting in India will provide an overview of the ways in which the Member States are deploying new and emerging technological developments. Secondly, they will update member states on threats posed by terrorists. Thirdly, they would be able to identify continuing challenges. Lastly, members will be able to share good practices in legislative, policy, and regulatory responses with international human rights law,’’ said sources.

    The Special Meeting would also provide an opportunity to reflect on the work of the Committee, CTED, taking into consideration specific gender aspects relating to digitalization and technology. 

    NEW DELHI: India will be hosting the UNSC Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting for the first time later this month. The agenda would be to focus on threats imposed by technology including social media.

    “All 15 permanent UNSC member states are expected to take part in this meeting spread over two days in Mumbai and Delhi (October 28th and 29th). The focus of the special meeting will be on addressing the use of new and emerging technologies for both terrorist purposes and for countering terrorism. This has been an issue of increasing concern for the Member States, policymakers and researchers,’’ say sources.

    New and emerging technologies – particularly information and communications technologies (ICT) such as the Internet, social media platforms, and financial technologies have become a favoured tool for terrorists such as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL)/Da’esh, Al-Qaida, their affiliated groups, other terrorist organizations, and their supporters to engage in terrorism. The Member States already face a significant and growing threat including incitement to terrorism and violent extremism conducive to terrorism, recruitment, training, planning, networking, securing logistical support, acquiring weapons and their components, fundraising, and conducting terrorist operations.

    Other objectives include identifying continuing challenges, sharing good practices in compliance with international human rights laws, industry action, public-private partnerships,  legislative policy and regulatory responses, the UN said in a statement.

    “The three main areas of discussion would include the use of social media, terrorism financing and unmanned aerial system (UAS),’’ according to the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED).

    With the growing prevalence of technology and the rapid rise in digitization, addressing the use of new and emerging technologies for both terrorist purposes, the UN Security Council has given focus to this issue in a number of counter-terrorism-related resolutions, most recently its resolution 2617 (2021), which specifically refers to “emerging technologies”.

    Terrorists move or store funds through the use of digital marketplaces and wallets, online payment platforms and applications, mobile payments or virtual currencies. There is also an increased risk of the abuse of the Internet by terrorist organizations for fundraising through crowdfunding, merchandise sales, donation appeals through social media platforms, and other methods. At the same time, innovations in financial technologies, products and services offer significant economic opportunities and provide effective tools to respond to emerging threats.

    Mindful of the increasing threat posed by the misuse of new and emerging technologies, this meeting will include the participation of relevant operational partners, including United Nations organizations, international and regional organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), private-sector entities, and members of the Global Research Network (GRN) of the CTED.

    “The Special Meeting in India will provide an overview of the ways in which the Member States are deploying new and emerging technological developments. Secondly, they will update member states on threats posed by terrorists. Thirdly, they would be able to identify continuing challenges. Lastly, members will be able to share good practices in legislative, policy, and regulatory responses with international human rights law,’’ said sources.

    The Special Meeting would also provide an opportunity to reflect on the work of the Committee, CTED, taking into consideration specific gender aspects relating to digitalization and technology. 

  • Centre may book ‘fake’ YouTubers

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The Centre may consider registering a criminal case against the creators of YouTube channels and social media users, who run an anti-India agenda and spread fake news.  

    The ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) has ordered the blocking of more than 100 YouTube channels and other digital platforms since December. Majority of them were being operated from Pakistan and around 35 of them were based in India.

    At least three officials of the ministry confirmed that no criminal case or FIR is registered against the handlers of the blocked Youtube channels or social media users but added that the ministry may explore possibilities to take action against the digital news outlets or accounts, which are based in India. 

    The ministry, following the inputs and recommendations from and security agencies, blocked the errant handles.

    NEW DELHI:  The Centre may consider registering a criminal case against the creators of YouTube channels and social media users, who run an anti-India agenda and spread fake news.  

    The ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) has ordered the blocking of more than 100 YouTube channels and other digital platforms since December. Majority of them were being operated from Pakistan and around 35 of them were based in India.

    At least three officials of the ministry confirmed that no criminal case or FIR is registered against the handlers of the blocked Youtube channels or social media users but added that the ministry may explore possibilities to take action against the digital news outlets or accounts, which are based in India. 

    The ministry, following the inputs and recommendations from and security agencies, blocked the errant handles.

  • ‘It’s hard to be alive now’: Timothee Chalamet talks about impact of social media

    By ANI

    WASHINGTON: ‘Dune’ star Timothee Chalamet did not hold back when speaking about the impact of social media on society while promoting his new film at a press conference during the Venice Film Festival.

    According to Fox News, at a press conference for his new movie, “Bones and All,” actor Timothee Chalamet was open and forthright about his thoughts on social media and the harm he feels it has done, saying he is glad he was not a child when social media was really popular.

    “To be young now, and to be young whenever–I can only speak for my generation–is to be intensely judged,” Chalamet said. “I can’t imagine what it is to grow up with the onslaught of social media.”

    His most recent movie is set in the 1980s, a time before social media and before individuals were constantly bombarded with other people’s ideas. Chalamet acknowledged that it was liberating to live a life free of concern about maintaining his online persona.

    He disagrees with society’s incessant need to interpret one’s feelings and thoughts in light of social media and what others may be saying about it. “It was a relief to play characters who are wrestling with an internal dilemma absent the ability to go on Reddit, or Twitter, Instagram or TikTok and figure out where they fit in,” he explained.

    While Chalamet acknowledges that some aspects of social media can be helpful, he believes that there are many other aspects of it that will eventually bring about the breakdown of civilization. “I’m not casting judgement,” he added. “You can find your tribe there … [but] I think it’s hard to be alive now. I think societal collapse is in the air. That’s why hopefully this movie will matter.”

    ALSO READ | The ugly side of filtered beauty: Unreal standards set by social media

    Taylor Russell, who co-starred with Chalamet in the film, also expressed her concern about the threats social media poses to society and the rising influence it now has over young adults. “I have a little brother who’s 19, 20-ish, and thinking about him in this world, and the self-judgement and judgment of others that people seem so flooded with every day in such a drastic and severe way is so scary, because the hope is that you can find your own compass within all of it and that seems like a difficult task now,” Russell said.

    Chalamet has collaborated twice with director and screenwriter Luca Guadagnino on this movie. Since they collaborated on “Call Me By Your Name,” Chalamet has been itching to work with him again. “I was dying to work with Luca again to tell a story that was grounded like the first story we told,” he said. “Only this time in the American Midwest in the ’80s about people that are disenfranchised in every way possible.”

    The film ‘Bones and All’ is based on the 2015 book of the same name, which centres on a Russell-played teenage girl who adores cannibalism and the romance that develops between her and a reclusive Lee character. It tracks their trip as they move together cross-country. His new movie is set to release on 23 November. (ANI)

    WASHINGTON: ‘Dune’ star Timothee Chalamet did not hold back when speaking about the impact of social media on society while promoting his new film at a press conference during the Venice Film Festival.

    According to Fox News, at a press conference for his new movie, “Bones and All,” actor Timothee Chalamet was open and forthright about his thoughts on social media and the harm he feels it has done, saying he is glad he was not a child when social media was really popular.

    “To be young now, and to be young whenever–I can only speak for my generation–is to be intensely judged,” Chalamet said. “I can’t imagine what it is to grow up with the onslaught of social media.”

    His most recent movie is set in the 1980s, a time before social media and before individuals were constantly bombarded with other people’s ideas. Chalamet acknowledged that it was liberating to live a life free of concern about maintaining his online persona.

    He disagrees with society’s incessant need to interpret one’s feelings and thoughts in light of social media and what others may be saying about it. “It was a relief to play characters who are wrestling with an internal dilemma absent the ability to go on Reddit, or Twitter, Instagram or TikTok and figure out where they fit in,” he explained.

    While Chalamet acknowledges that some aspects of social media can be helpful, he believes that there are many other aspects of it that will eventually bring about the breakdown of civilization. “I’m not casting judgement,” he added. “You can find your tribe there … [but] I think it’s hard to be alive now. I think societal collapse is in the air. That’s why hopefully this movie will matter.”

    ALSO READ | The ugly side of filtered beauty: Unreal standards set by social media

    Taylor Russell, who co-starred with Chalamet in the film, also expressed her concern about the threats social media poses to society and the rising influence it now has over young adults. “I have a little brother who’s 19, 20-ish, and thinking about him in this world, and the self-judgement and judgment of others that people seem so flooded with every day in such a drastic and severe way is so scary, because the hope is that you can find your own compass within all of it and that seems like a difficult task now,” Russell said.

    Chalamet has collaborated twice with director and screenwriter Luca Guadagnino on this movie. Since they collaborated on “Call Me By Your Name,” Chalamet has been itching to work with him again. “I was dying to work with Luca again to tell a story that was grounded like the first story we told,” he said. “Only this time in the American Midwest in the ’80s about people that are disenfranchised in every way possible.”

    The film ‘Bones and All’ is based on the 2015 book of the same name, which centres on a Russell-played teenage girl who adores cannibalism and the romance that develops between her and a reclusive Lee character. It tracks their trip as they move together cross-country. His new movie is set to release on 23 November. (ANI)

  • Twitter removes filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s ‘Kaali’ poster tweet 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Social media platform Twitter has pulled down filmmaker Leena Manimekalai’s tweet about her documentary “Kaali”, which is currently at the centre of a controversy, in response to “a legal demand”.

    In the said tweet posted on July 2, the Toronto-based director had shared the poster of “Kaali”, which depicted the titular goddess smoking and holding an LGBTQ flag.

    “This Tweet from @LeenaManimekali has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand,” read a message in place of the original post. It is unknown when the tweet was taken down by the microblogging site.

    On Tuesday, the Delhi Police and the Uttar Pradesh Police filed separate FIRs against Manimekalai over the controversial poster.

    Further, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa had urged the Canadian authorities to take down all “provocative material” related to the film after it received complaints from leaders of the Hindu community in Canada about the “disrespectful depiction” of Hindu gods.

    “Kaali” was showcased as part of the ‘Under the Tent’ project at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. Under attack for the poster, Manimekalai had on Monday said she will continue to use her voice fearlessly till she is alive.

    “I have nothing to lose. Till the time I live, I wish to live with a voice that speaks what I believe without fear. If the price for that is my life, it can be given,” she wrote in a tweet in Tamil in response to an article on the controversy. The filmmaker also urged people to watch the documentary to understand the context behind the poster.

  • ‘Crossing that ‘Lakshman rekha many times’: SC judge who heard Nupur Sharma’s plea bats for mandatory regulation of social media

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Digital and social media need to be mandatorily regulated in the country to preserve the rule of law under the Constitution, Supreme Court Judge Justice J B Pardiwala said on Sunday, terming as “dangerous” the crossing of ‘Lakshman rekha’ on these platforms for “personalised, agenda-driven attacks” on the judges.

    The remarks by Justice Pardiwala at an event here come amid an uproar by a section over the strong oral observations of a vacation bench, in which he was a member, against suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma for her controversial comments against Prophet Mohammed.

    The apex court had said that her “loose tongue” has “set the entire country on fire” and she should apologise.

    The observations of the bench, which had also refused to club the FIRs lodged against Sharma across the country, sparked a debate, including on digital and social media platforms, leading to some uncharitable comments against the judges also.

    “In India, which cannot be classified as mature and an informed democracy, social and digital media is employed frequently to politicise purely legal and constitutional issues,” Justice Pardiwala said and gave the illustration of the Ayodhya land dispute case.

    He said the trials by digital media are an undue interference in the justice dispensation system.

    “Crossing that ‘’Lakshman rekha’ many times, this is especially more worrisome,”” the judge, who has recently been elevated to the top court, said.

    ALSO READ | Nupur Sharma row elgulfs assembly proceedings of Budget session in Odisha

    Justice Pardiwala was speaking at the second Justice HR Khanna Memorial National Symposium organised by Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow & National Law University, Odisha along with the Confederation of Alumni for National Law Universities (CAN Foundation).

    “Digital and social media needs to be mandatorily regulated in the country to preserve the rule of law under our Constitution.

    “Attacks attempted at our judges for the judgements will lead to a dangerous scenario where the judges will have to pay greater attention as to what the media thinks rather than what the law actually mandates. This puts the rule of law on the burner ignoring the sanctity of the respect for the courts,”” he said.

    Speaking on the subject of ‘Vox Populi vs.Rule of Law: Supreme Court of India’, Justice Pardiwala said, “Judicial verdicts cannot be the reflection of the influence of public opinion”.

    Observing that the rule of law has to prevail over the popular public sentiment, the apex court judge said that balancing the intent of the majority populace on one hand and meeting its demand and affirming the rule of law on the other is an “arduous exercise”.

    “It requires extreme judicial craftsmanship to walk the tightrope between the two that is where people think ‘’log kya kahenge, log kya sochenge’ (What will people say, what will people think) is an enigma which haunts each and every judge whenever he is to pen down a judgement,” he said.

    Talking about digital and social media, he said these sections possess only the half-truth and start scrutinising the judicial process.

    “They are also not aware of the concept of judicial discipline, binding precedents and inherent limitations of judicial discretion,” he said.

    ““This section of people, the half-truth knowledgeable, is the real challenge to the dispensation of justice through the rule of law,”” he said.

    ALSO READ | Letter plea to CJI seeks withdrawal of adverse remarks by SC against Nupur Sharma

    “Social and digital media is nowadays primarily resorted to expressing personalised opinions more against the judges per se rather than a constructive critical appraisal of their judgements.

    This is what is harming the judicial institutions and lowering this dignity,” he said.

    Justice Pardiwala said the constitutional courts have always graciously accepted informed dissent and constructive criticism and the legal ethos always debarred the “personalised, agenda-driven attacks” on the judges.

    He said the judges must not participate in social media discussions as “judges never speak through their tongue, only their judgements.”

    He concluded his address by saying “judiciary cannot exist independent of society but the rule of law is insurmountable.”

  • K-pop megastars BTS on ‘hiatus’, here’s all we know

    BTS have been called “icons of progressive globalism” and have been said to embody the 21st century zeitgeist, but at heart, they're just entertainers.

  • Amber Heard to appeal jury verdict; attorney says verdict influenced by social media

    By IANS

    LOS ANGELES: Elaine Bredehoft, Amber Heard’s attorney in her defamation trial against Johnny Depp, opened up about the verdict in a no-hold-barred conversation with Savannah Guthrie on the NBC network’s ‘Today’ show.She said Heard will “absolutely” want to appeal the jury’s decision that was in favour of Depp. “She has some excellent grounds for it,” Bredehoft added, according to ‘Variety’.”She was demonised here,” Bredehoft added about Heard. “A number of things were allowed in this court that should not have been allowed, and it caused the jury to be confused. We weren’t allowed to tell them about the U.K. judgment.”The attorney was referring to the libel case Depp lost in the United Kingdom. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor sued the popular British red-top tabloid, ‘The Sun’, for calling him a “wife beater” but lost the case.Bredehoft also shared her belief that the vitriol Heard received on social media during the course of the high-profile trial most likely impacted the jury, reports ‘Variety’. Social media was largely on Depp’s side, according to the attorney, as was evident from the viral TikTok trend in which users widely mocked Heard’s testimonies.When asked if social media impacted the jury, Bredehoft replied: “Absolutely. Jurors [weren’t supposed to be looking at social media], but how can you not [be aware]? They went home every night. They have families. Their families are on social media. We had a 10-day break in the middle because of the judicial conference. There is no way they couldn’t have been influenced.”