Sri Vijaya Puram, Aug. 3: With nearly 407 million Indians aged between 14 and 29 relying heavily on social media, concerns are being raised over the growing influence of algorithm-driven platforms in shaping public opinion and exposing young users to misinformation and emotionally charged content. An article published by Indian Narrative argues that algorithmically curated feeds have become a significant factor in influencing how India’s largest youth demographic consumes information.
Citing data from the United Nations World Population Prospects, the article notes that India’s Gen Z population accounts for around 28 per cent of the country’s total population, making it a decisive voter base for the coming decades. It argues that the extensive use of social media by this demographic increases the risk of exposure to online propaganda and fake content.
The article refers to a study by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak involving nearly 39,000 respondents aged between 18 and 25 years. According to the study, participants recorded an average daily screen time of about seven hours, with a substantial share of that time spent on social media platforms.
According to the article, the algorithms that determine the content displayed on users’ feeds are designed primarily to maximise engagement rather than evaluate the accuracy or public value of information. It argues that such systems often prioritise outrage, polarisation and emotionally charged material because it keeps users engaged for longer periods, thereby increasing advertising opportunities.
Written by retired Lieutenant General Abhay Krishna, the article states that algorithm-driven social media platforms are not neutral channels of information but systems that can influence public debate, suppress information and intensify political divisions. It describes these platforms as powerful tools capable of shaping public perception on a large scale.
The article also cites international examples to support its arguments. It refers to the “Twitter Files” and related disclosures in the United States, stating that they raised concerns over how decisions surrounding the Hunter Biden laptop story were influenced by internal policies and external government pressure. It further points to criticism faced by Meta over the role of its recommendation systems in amplifying harmful content, particularly in Myanmar, where United Nations investigators and an Amnesty International report concluded that the company’s algorithms played a determining role in spreading anti-Rohingya hate and contributing to atrocities.
The article further argues that similar patterns have emerged in South Asia. It cites Nepal, where a government ban on major social media platforms in September 2025 allegedly triggered a youth-led mobilisation organised through TikTok, Discord and other online platforms. It also refers to Bangladesh as another example where comparable trends were observed.
In the Indian context, the article points to the NEET paper leak protests, claiming that Instagram Reels, AI-generated videos and coordinated influencer networks transformed student grievances into sustained national mobilisation. It also alleges that deepfake videos and misinformation circulated widely during the protests, with some content later traced to foreign-linked accounts, influencing not only Gen Z users but also a broader section of the public.
The article concludes that the growing influence of social media platforms over India’s youth presents a policy challenge. Rather than advocating outright bans on platforms such as Meta and Google, it argues for strategies based on legal, economic and regulatory measures, including greater digital oversight without imposing complete prohibitions, warning that blanket bans could provoke widespread resistance among younger users.
