Irresponsible use of social media — distortion of freedom of expression?

THIS MONTH’S TOPIC: Irresponsible use of social media is a distortion of the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Constitution.

Today, social media proves to be the largest platform wherein one can share his/her views just with the click of a button. However, its reckless use is a distortion of the freedom of expression given to the citizens by the constitution. There are many people using Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp or Instagram account forwarding every third post they get, without even finding out whether it is authentic or not. This leads to negativity in the minds of people, and can even give rise to riots. Hence, the government should ensure that those who circulate such fake news and bogus messages should be severely punished.
Avishi Singh (13)
St Anthony’s Jr College, Agra

Social media is a platform invented for uniting people and to provide a common source to communicate with anyone, anywhere in the world. But today, it has become a craze, creating utter confusion all over, with distortion of facts, for their advantage. The only way to escape from becoming a victim to this is to be alert always.
Milan Patel R.
Saranathan College of Engineering, Tiruchirappalli

Social networking sites are the best platforms for expressing our views and opinions. But, citing freedom of expression, we can’t cause harm to someone, by character assassination and spoiling his/her reputation which is now very common on social media. Such reckless use of social media is not only a distortion of freedom of expression but also an outright disrespect to the Constitution.
Dhwani K. Thacker (18)
KDM College, Nagpur

Social media is a very powerful means of exercising one’s freedom of speech and expression. It has become a vital communication tool. However, we often think that being on social media gives us an audience to tell whatever we think and feel. We have to learn to use our right to freedom of expression wisely and speak up on where it is needed and really important.
Sonali Garg
GGSIPU, New Delhi

The Indian Constitution has provided us with freedom of expression. It is sad that many are misusing this “Freedom of Expression” by spreading hatred, wrong information, cyberbullying, harassment and even issuing death and rape threats to women via social media. Instead of misusing this freedom, we must make the best use of it by diffusing information, love and peace, as a powerful means of educating people.
Senjuti Saibal Bhattacharya
A C Patil College of Engineering, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai

Social media platforms have become an integral part of our lives. They have a very important role to play in our day-to-day life. But, nowadays people use it not only as a platform that keeps us in touch with one another, but also as a social court which pronounces judgement on others, misusing someone’s personal information by means of social media. Such acts leave a huge impact on the lives of people, prompting some of them even to commit suicide, for fear of being judged by the society.
Stuti Singh (17)
Notre Dame School, Delhi

Social media are now tilting dangerously towards oppression. Political leaders and the government itself use disinformation and propaganda to distort facts creating wrong opinions during elections. What was once a liberating technology has now become a conduit for fake news and manipulation.
Disha Vig (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Freedom of expression allows one to express oneself freely but not to force one’s opinion on others. Irresponsibly posting anything about anyone, without verifying its source and correctness, and its impact on others is a distortion of freedom of expression. While posting anything on social media, let us always ask ourselves: “Is it original?”, “Is it right?” and “Is it true?”
Sargun Saini (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

When using social media we should be aware about what is presently happening on social media. Parents should allow their children to use social media in their presence and be aware of what their children are doing. To avoid hacking of accounts, stealing of online account money, etc., one should pass words for personal information.
Khushi Panjgotra (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Social media is very powerful with a massive reach. We have an asset in our hands in the form of freedom of expression, guaranteed by the Constitution. But now, this freedom of expression is taking a wrong turn, using it as license for expressing one’s anger and frustration. Expressing vulgar thoughts via social media is not anyone’s constitutional right!
Kritika (15)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Taking advantage of the right to freedom of expression, some attack the feelings and beliefs of others. To bring themselves into limelight, they spread wrong information and rumours. Social media can make a person popular overnight or also defame a person or a community. Such acts in the name of ‘Rights’ have to be done away with, at all costs.
Charanpreet Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Various social media platforms provide their users the opportunity of putting their views forward. But, taking this freedom with such liberty many today post things that result in controversy. The Constitution has given us this privilege under certain conditions, and we should always be aware of this.
Palakshi Kalra (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Spreading fake news has often led to cruel lynching. Social media today has also become a tool for cyber bullying. Many young people are subjected to trauma as a result of bullying on social media. This is definitely anti-constitutional, and against the spirit of the freedom of expression.
Arunima (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Some people misuse social media to do wrong acts like selling alcohol, child trafficking, breaching privacy, cyber bullying, communal disharmony, etc. They are destroying the very purpose of social media. Such people must be brought to justice, without fail.
Tanisha (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Freedom of expression does not mean saying or writing anything that one wants, without considering whether it is right or wrong! Nowadays, people are pouring out their anger because of the lockdown, on social media, making it a podium for dishing out one’s anger. I am not against the use of social media but its wrong use.
Anahit Sandhu (16)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Social media, these days, is being increasingly used for illegal acts. On the one hand, the misuse of social media entails the need for legal censorship, on the other, there is legitimate fear of violation of civil rights, as an inevitable consequence of censorship.
Guneev Kaur (13)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

The use of social media platforms also comes under the rights of speech and expression. Some people exploit innocent ones for their advantage, misusing this platform, creating a negative impact. Hence, the government should impose certain restrictions on the freedom of expression.
Ansheeka Saini (14)
St Joseph’s Convent School, Jalandhar

Netizens indulge in tweets and re-tweets, posts and comments, shares and likes so much so that they hardly think of the content. At times, such texts and messages are found to be very offensive to others. Social media is meant to connect people, and not break their already weakened connections. Incidents like this tend to destroy the spirit of our Constitution, which we ought to respect with high regard.
Diya Vinod Surjuse (16)
Wardha, Maharashtra