ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Internet is a very multifarious arrangement and technology which is there to enable the users to get access to information at a comprehensive level. The social media platforms connect nearly 2.5 billion users today universally. There has a sudden but gradual development and success in the social networks over the past decade which is very momentous illustration of this new milieu.
The impact and influence of social media over these past few years has been so phenomenal that one really thought of such a development. With this increased use and millions and billions of people connected to it on daily basis and thousands of people connected in our nation. Such has been the effect of social media but we cannot deny the fact that it has become much more than that. It is integral part of our communication, connecting to world, a way of expressing ourselves. Social media has become an inseparable mode of communication in today’s world. It won’t be wrong to say that most of the communication that one have is through social media only. It no longer serves merely as the way to connect to family and friends but has much broader scope and impact than that. It is not just about sharing pictures and videos or talking to one another but a way to impact people and society at large. With this recent development in our technological system, the traditional ways of communication have somewhere lost their importance and relevance in the contemporary times. There is no denying to the fact that any communication be it private or public, official or unofficial, general or specific, they are being disseminated through one or the other social media platforms. Such conversations tend to have a much greater effect and reach to the masses to what it does in comparison to other ways. We have come to the practice of ensuring that every conversation that is being made which is relevant for the public must reach on such social media platforms because this practice ensures it’s reaching to public than otherwise.
The government also have official accounts and handlers on social media networking sites. They respond to general public and any query directed to them on social media platforms. The government officials are now in a habit of sending out tweets and posts on Facebook than having press conferences and printed documented information dissemination. Given the fact that such information come from authority and people of power, it makes it more authentic and impactful even though the platform where it is being shared is official or not.
Social media is being regulated in India under its already existing laws. And that there has been considerable but yet not ample amount of amendments and legislation of new rules to compensate the ever growing scope of social media telecommunication services. We still don’t have any specific law or piece of legislation which strictly deals with the offences and challenges imposed by social media. The regulation by authorities is also not apt as no expert opinion or technological understanding is undertaken. Social media is ever growing but it has to be regulated and governed properly.
Objective of Research
The objective with which this research was undertaken is how far social media platforms, their websites have become part of our communication regime. The research look into the fact that has this internet based communication become an integral part of our communication services leaving behind the usage of traditional ways of communication. With this aspect in mind, the research tried to look into the fact that can social media platforms and communication is new sector developing in these services. The research aimed at studying the present laws governing the social media activities and communications undertaken by this method. It looked into the available statutory and legislative laws and enactment and also the cases in this aspect.
The research aimed to understand the state of social media related laws in the country, the influence and affect that it has on the society. The capability of the authorities and administration in facing the problems posed thereto. And most importantly the new horizons and marks that social media is capable of achieving especially in respect of infrastructural development of communication services.
Research Question
The research has been done in the scope, development and status of the social media platforms in the system with reference to the Indian society and our legal system & regulatory mechanism. The research has focused on mainly two research questions those are:
• How developed and influential social media platforms have become in our society and can it be new infrastructure sector with regard to communication services.
• How prepared and competent our legal and regulatory system is when we talk about social media platform regulation, and if not then it there a way to curb this issue.
