Is fake news real in India?

Abstract

Fake news is not novel. History abounds with various examples of twisting the truth for material increase, popularly called lying, or flexing the truth for political gain, named propaganda. Fake news is generally assumed to be as old as journalism itself, and reputable media organisations have seldom played a role of "gatekeeper" for trustworthy information. In the fast-moving internet age this role has been primarily challenged as rumours and false information are being viral, sometimes leading to tragic results. With the advent of digital media and the popularity of internet, the responsibility of the fourth pillar of democracy has increased several folds. The present study aims to emphasize on the role of digital media concerning fake news and the innovative face of political campaigns through social media. This research paper also highlights few cases which led to disharmony in the nation due to dissemination of misinformation through social media. The researcher has basically picked up several examples on highlighting the massive problem prevailing in the nation for this study. This paper also discusses in general the precautions taken by social media platforms to curb the existing issue of fake news and privacy concerns in the nation.