Viral for wrong reasons? Cops are watching

 

 

 

In the age of instant fame and fleeting virality, some content creators resort to offensive language and questionable humour to grab attention on the social media. Nagpur has witnessed a concerning trend of individuals creating social media videos and reels with immoral themes. Recognising the negative impact of such content, the Cyber Police Station has taken a firm stance against it, launching an initiative to hold creators accountable. Archit Chandak, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Cyber, informed ‘The Hitavada’ that till now the Department has taken action on about 15 such cases. The creators are primarily youth, aged between 16 and 24 years old, although some juveniles and adults are involved as well. These individuals were called to the police station and were made to delete their offensive posts themselves.

 

DCP Chandak stated, “We have a Social Media Monitoring Cell with 10 personnel monitoring prominent social media platforms for such activities. We take action against those who openly abuse, threaten, show allegiance to goons, abuse communities or women, or disrupt social harmony.” This initiative was launched due to a significant rise in negative content and numerous complaints received through various channels. “We use a combination of online patrolling, reports from citizens, and collaboration with city-based social media influencers and positive content creators to track down individuals violating community guidelines,” explained DCP Chandak. The officers counsel the individuals involved, emphasising on zero tolerance for such content, and also take diary entries and keep a record of them. DCP Chandak explained that creators often resort to offensive content because the current societal environment allows such content to go viral easily and gain popularity through social media algorithms, giving creators a false sense of validation and encouraging them to continue.

 

These actions, however, tarnish the image of the city, he added. “The public apologies by content creators serve as a deterrence to others from engaging in similar behaviour. Recognising that people, especially young individuals are prone to making mistakes during their formative years, the focus is to counsel them and not register offence against them,” he added. Acknowledging that social background plays a role in this issue, he explained that sometimes, young people do not understand the difference between right and wrong, often due to weak educational or social backgrounds. DCP Chandak noted the challenges faced by the cyber department, including the difficulty of tracking down content creators and identifying individuals who operate behind fake accounts. DCP Chandak stated that the department actively engages in public talks at schools and colleges, educating students on cybercrime, the dangers of online harassment and abuse. They also encourage them to become ‘cyber volunteers’ by assisting their families and elders who might be less familiar with online threats and safety measures. “The initiative has met with positive responses, with citizens expressing appreciation for the actions taken on such content,” he concludes. Varun Jangade, who manages a social media account focused on Nagpur news and updates, recognised the problem firsthand and noticed a rise in complaints from city youths regarding content creators using unethical methods to gain popularity. Varun actively collaborates with DCP Chandak’s team by directly sending them such offensive reels. Varun applauded their swift action in taking down these negative content.