Algorithmic social media propaganda targeting Indian GenZ

An article by Indian Narrative, authored by Lt Gen (retired) Abhay Krishna, warns that India's GenZ population, numbering around 407 million (28% of the population), is highly vulnerable to fake propaganda due to heavy social media use. Citing an IIM Rohtak study showing an average daily screen time of seven hours among young adults, the article argues that algorithm-driven platforms like Meta and Alphabet Inc. are designed to maximize engagement, often rewarding outrage and polarisation, thereby distorting public debate and intensifying political violence. It cites global examples including Myanmar, where Meta's algorithms allegedly contributed to anti-Rohingya hate, and the Arab Spring, as well as recent events in Nepal and Bangladesh. In India, the NEET paper leak protests are highlighted as an instance where deepfakes and foreign-linked accounts manipulated public sentiment. The article suggests that outright bans on platforms would provoke generational resistance, and instead recommends strategies of digital control without bans, such as legal ambiguity and economic leverage.