Navigating the Social Media Jungle: Striking the Right Balance Between Freedom and Safety

Poonam Pandey’s recent “Dead to Alive” campaign to raise awareness about cervical cancer sparked outrage in the entertainment industry. This highlights a major challenge in the digital age: information authenticity.

False information spreads quickly online, especially on social media, causing real-world consequences. Pandey’s manager initially announcing her death, only for her to be revealed alive, exemplifies the dangers of relying on a single source and the need for multi-layered verification.

The problem is compounded by information overload. Young people, despite being tech-savvy, struggle to discern genuine news from fabricated stories. This highlights the need for broader digital literacy education that goes beyond technology skills.

The media landscape has also shifted. Traditional media has lost control over news distribution due to algorithms, and social media platforms like Facebook and Google now hold immense power.

In this environment, establishing online information reliability is crucial. The rise of social media as a primary news source blurs the line between real and fake content.

So, what can be done?

• Human intervention: Fact-checking networks like the IFCN allow users to flag questionable articles. Media outlets and independent organisations leverage web extensions to help users identify misinformation.
• Algorithmic solutions: Algorithms can be part of the solution by identifying reliable sources. However, existing algorithms need improvement to be robust enough.

These solutions point to the growing role of communication professionals. They need to:

• Monitor evolving tactics: Understand how “fake news factories” operate to damage reputations.
• Embrace investigative journalism: Use fact-checking methods to combat misinformation.
• Champion social responsibility: Encourage businesses to be transparent and ethical.
• Utilise social media effectively: Develop strategies to utilise these platforms while ensuring content authenticity.
• Navigate stakeholder-driven media: Manage relationships with media influenced by public opinion.

While freedom of speech is important, it doesn’t give people the right to spread harmful lies. Faking a death is a clear example of pushing boundaries. This incident will likely pressure social media platforms, influencers, and creators to implement stricter content verification measures.

Verifying content authenticity takes time, and platforms need to balance efficiency with user safety. While regulations might seem cumbersome, they are necessary to ensure platforms continue providing valuable services.

Communication professionals recognise these challenges and understand the need for ongoing effort. While achieving absolute online safety is an ongoing struggle, the benefits of social media – transparency, communication, awareness raising, and more – make it worth the fight for a secure information environment.

The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.

Jyotsna Nanda Dash

A seasoned Corporate Communications strategist with over 23 years of experience in leading reputation management initiatives for prestigious organizations. Proven ability to navigate diverse projects and campaigns across global geographies, demonstrating expertise in aligning communication strategies with overarching business goals. Collaborative approach with global marketing, corporate communication, digital, and CSR teams. Recognized for crafting compelling narratives that elevate organizational standing within the industry and society at large. Consistent commitment to delivering excellence in the dynamic field of Corporate Communications, to make an impact.