CHANDIGARH: Discussing the challenges posed to the military by the increasing use of social media, panellists agreed that social media per se is not bad and can be used said that effectively in solving many problems.
“Civilians see us as an organisation which lives up to the principles of discipline, honesty, secularism and devotion to duty.”
Also in the panel was Gurmehar Kaur who was trolled online for her views on Indo-Pak relations. “The military belongs to the country and polarisation inside it has to be resisted. The propaganda on social media about one or the other party has to be resisted so that saffronisation of military can be stopped.”
Adding to the discussion, Colonel Ajai Shukla (retd), said, “Social media does provide challenge because the security dynamics is involved,” adding that the United States of America has a handbook for the military on the use of social media. “We need to address the lack of understanding,” he said.
Recounting her experience, Ambreen Zaidi, a journalist, said she and her husband were refused rented accommodation in New Delhi because they are Muslims.
She then raised the matter on Twitter and that was the first occasion when the couple’s religion was seen to be more important than the fact they are an army family.
“I was trolled on the social media, given death and rape threats but I wasn’t intimidated. They then started reaching out to my children and I was afraid for a while. However, it all settled down after some time and I started replying to the trolls in a way that hurt them the most,” she said.
