The role social media, with its dopamine highs, played in Brexit and the 2016 US presidential election are the standout examples, but it goes beyond that. 2014 was India’s first social media election with an overall digital spend of Rs400-500 crore and 3-4% of the swing vote online in 24 “internet-active” states. Social media has been used extensively in the Karnataka campaign, with a reach that extends to about 58% of the electorate. Political parties in India and the EC are also becoming increasingly reliant on digital telecommunication. What does India need to do?

Source: Mint May 09, 2018 16:52 UTC