State Minister for Cooperatives, Bhopal Gas Tragedy Relief and Rehabilitation Vishwas Sarang said that the positive use of social media is a big challenge. A social audit approved by all is necessary to ensure that social media is responsible and its use is for the welfare of the people. Sarang was speaking on ‘Social Media - Opportunities and Challenges’ at the Bhuvan Bhushan Devalia Memorial lecture today.
Sarang said that social media was started with a positive aim of developing better communication. He said that we do have a right to freedom of expression but we also have responsibilities. He said that today negativity has also seeped in social media. Efforts are being made to belittle people through this healthy medium. There is need for discipline and control in using this medium. He said that for this is necessary that we develop a person, which has not happened in the last 70 years.
Sarang said that prior to independence; the term ‘leader’ was a symbol of prestige and glory. The public gave freedom fighter Subhashchandra Bose the title of ‘Netaji’. He said that the society would have to form a code of conduct so that this live medium of communication is not misused and we do not become responsible for deforming this media. He said that Government will ponder upon inclusion of this subject in the curriculum so that there is positive use of social media and the new generation is trained for its use.
Sarang honoured young journalist Arjun Richaria with the Bhuvan Bhushan Devalia Samman. He also released a souvenir. He presented guests with a memento along with a Tulsi sapling. Senior journalist Kamal Dixit, Sushri Devender Kaur Uppal and a large number of journalists and elite were present. Senior journalist Shiv Anurag Pateria gave information on the programme outline.