The rise of the internet and social media has affected freedom of the press in India

The rise of social media and the internet is essential nowadays, It is the communication tool that covers the largest audience active on it. The process of providing the information and the news in the press has changed, More and more industries are gradually adopting the use of social media as a tool, which is beneficial for the organisation to reach their audience through different mediums and different elements online. Social media is the platform for news or any information to break within minutes or in minimum character through the internet immediately. The number of people using the internet and social media for news and information has increased over the year. In the freedom of the press social media plays a vital role and powerful accountability towards human rights, It is the tools for news organisations to communicate worldwide to exchange information and opinion without relying on the traditional mass media. 

The dark side of the internet

In the freedom of the press, the exciting factor of journalism is being called the fourth pillar of democracy, and how it can get manipulated by the politics in India. With the rise of social media in journalism the credibility got affected and the misuses of the internet have increased. In India, censorship takes many forms by society. The government don’t like opposition voices which are rapidly increasing the censorship in India. The regulation over online news and entertainment is not by the governments which provide an individual to exercise the freedom of Press but The height of problems in offline/online journalism includes harassment. Yellow journalism raises many questions against journalists today. one of the problems which raise a question on journalists nowadays which enforce the public with over information and sometimes underload of information and the sources which are unreliable and non-co-operative. Credibility and being clear and concise should be the priority of any journalist. the government in India is assaulting journalists with censorship and the right to speak or the freedom of the press is being challenged every day in India 

Fake news can create propaganda that is the downside of the internet, a individuals perspective can be changed by the wrong information or sensationalism which can lead to misinterpretation in society, social media is a powerful tool that can shape opinions through the internet at the same time its the most necessary tool in the current scenario of the press in India.

 Social media can never take over journalism because it’s just an effective tool, not a replacement. 

Journalism needs credibility and real facts with all the method and ethics.