UP’s New Social Media Policy 2024

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has launched the UP’s New Social Media Policy 2024 under the cognizance of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

This controversial policy was accepted on 27th August 2024 and ever since has remained a topic of extraordinary controversy across the country.

It seeks aggressive monetization of social media influencers by providing rewards for endorsing government policies while at the same time threatening offenders of sharing anti-national or inappropriate content with life imprisonment or other draconian judicial actions.

The policy has raised a lot of red flags about the freedom of speech as opposition parties and civil society have expressed their concerns about the prospects of the policy.

Social Media Influencers’ Motivational Factors

The financial incentives offered to the social media influencers in UP’s New Social Media Policy is one of its major highlights. Influencers who are active in promoting government schemes and achievement of the state can earn substantial amounts depending on their number of followers and the platform they use.

In other words, it seems like an attempt by state government to exploit the power of digital media for spreading information regarding its development activities.

Under this scheme, YouTube influencers can make as much as Rs 8 lakh each month just by producing ordinary video material that showcases government programs. For YouTube Shorts that have taken off due to their concise and captivating nature, they can receive Rs 7 lakh each month.

Podcasters who create detailed conversations or interviews can get Rs 6 lakh per month. Other types of YouTube content are limited to Rs 4 lakh.

Platform X (previously Twitter) is where real-time news and conversations thrive; thus the maximum amount an influencer can receive for endorsing government initiatives is Rs 5 lakh every month.

On Facebook, which still holds a position as one of the largest social media platforms in India, influencers may earn up to Rs 4 lakh per month.

For government promoter influencers on Instagram known for visual content and stories alike, it has capped at Rs 3 lakh per month.

UP’s New Social Media Policy Imposes Life Sentences for Anti-national Contents

While the financial incentives in Uttar Pradesh Digital Media Policy 2024 appear to be attractive, it has put harsh penalties for individuals, who are charged with creating or spreading such anti-national, obscene or objectionable content on social media networks.

The policy states that those found engaging in such acts risk serving a life term imprisonment. This policy has come under fire from various quarters amid fears that it may be used as a weapon against dissenters and curtailment of freedom of speech.

Definitions and Criticisms of Anti-National Content

A key contentious issue surrounding the policy is its ambiguous definition about what constitutes “anti-national” content. The critics claim that this vagueness might result into its misuse since any disparagement of the government can be potentially tagged as anti-national.

Anti-national Content: The content which is said to affect the oneness, integrity or sovereignty of the nation in a negative way.

Obscene Content: Material that can be said to insult public decency or morality.

Objectionable Content: Content that may cause violence, hatred or turmoil among people.

Just What They Want

Overflowing with generality could lead to selected implementation; this could see government critics or people who disagree with it being harassed for no reason. According to legal professionals and activists advocating for human rights, such a move may mean that free expression is jeopardized as people fear risking their lives by speaking out on crucial matters.

UP’s New Social Media Policy Draws Fire from Opposition

The new social media policy has not gone unnoticed by opposition parties. Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera took to Platform X to voice his concerns. He questioned the intentions of the government, hinting that this policy was meant for silencing critics under the guise of national security.

Response from Samajwadi Party

The Samajwadi Party also condemned the policy insisting that public funds were being used to reward people who please the government while punishing those who disobey it. The party labeled the policy as an assault on free expression and warned it might create a climate of fear and censorship.

The different levels of earnings according to the number of followers or subscribers an influencer possesses. Influencers can be categorized into various tiers by the government based on their reach; thus will have payments regulated according to such classifications.

Civil Society and Media Response

Several civil society organizations and media have gone beyond political parties to express fear of the probable outcomes of the UP Social media Policy 2024. Many of them have urged that the policy be reviewed or amended so that it does not violate fundamental rights.

There are those who have also advocated for legal actions against this policy due to its possible non-congruity with freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution.

Impact on Social Media Platforms

Using the UP’s New Social Media Policy, the intention of the state government to exploit social media for altering public perception is obvious. The structured incentives in the policy could attract a large number of social media influencers looking to rise above their competitors by promoting government schemes.

However, there are risks for these influencers as well. This is because of the broad and ambiguous definitions of “anti-national” and “objectionable” content, which could have unintended legal repercussions for them especially if they talk about politically sensitive topics.

Implications for Freedom of Expression

Free speech advocates are alarmed by this policy. The provision for life sentence seems very severe and can prevent people from doing genuine political discourse on line.

This has precipitated fears that this may be used selectively against those who oppose the government or engage in dissenting opinions.

Conclusion: UP’s New Social Media Policy: Balancing Incentives and Restrictions

In conclusion, the UP social media policy 2024 has both its pros and cons. One side of the coin has never had such an unreserved financial breakthrough for social media influencers to lobby government goodness while the other represents punishing forms that may discourage free speech.

There will be a need to analyze how the policy affects digital content creation, free speech, and broader societal discourses as it is implemented. Essentially, its success or otherwise may largely depend on how it is enforced such that it can balance promotion of positive content with protection of fundamental rights.

In addition, UP social media policy 2024 sets a model for other states and possibly even national legislation in India in this area thus raising questions about ongoing trends in country’s digital governance.

While most countries struggle with issues related to online content regulation, this policy may define worldwide discussions regarding what constitutes freedom of speech, what social networks should do and what every content producer should watch out for themselves (including why sometimes they need professionals like me).

Whether or not this policy will boost digital involvement across U.P., or if it would instead stifle such activities will only be seen in the next months.