How effective is social media?

It seems to be very effective in spreading the negative news much faster and more purposefully.

Let's look at some instances in the recent past, the biggest news break was the Nano chip in the Rs.2000-00 note, that was scheduled to be released in Feb 2017. Scared the shit out of many and even few channels ran news stories around it, apparently without even verifying the news. Later on thanks to the demonetisation, notes got released earlier and we realise there is no chip. When our own phones don't work without signals, how did people expect chips without power source sending signals for indefinite periods from distances below the surface up to 10 ft.

All the talk of people getting affected due to demonetisation weddings, hospitalisation, death, travel etc no doubt people will get inconvenienced, when such big moves take place. It is the Indian Jugad which has to help them, in such times. But what is baffling is we give so much publicity to these and make it sound as if, these don't happen in normal times or under Force Majeure conditions like earthquakes, cyclones, floods etc.

Similarly, we have so much of false info being presented to us, wherein we are unable to judge and make out which is genuine and which is false. I saw a WA message on Urjit Patel & Jio connection, How Banks balance sheet will improve with this demoetisation etc. When I questioned back people who forwarded me, they don't have answers or they agree with my view point and say it was an error forwarding the stuff.

It is indeed a problem for all of us who start reacting to all the news that floats on the net and without verifying make comments or accusations, like in the case of the alleged daughter of a BJP leader holding 10 bundles of Rs.2000 notes, without even bothering to note value is not one million but 2 million for those notes. It turns out this man in question does not have a daughter. How quickly the news got spread, the girl in the picture must have cursed for sharing it with her friends, her proud moment turning out to be a nightmare.

2014 elections BJP used this medium very effectively to run their campaign and today is forced to defend itself, when others are using the media for their purposes. Unfortunately, this exercise is causing many to feel insecure in their own nation as they have started seeing things with magnifying glasses and are forced to believe the stories.

We see the creative photo-shop work being put to good use in social media with lots of malice at the regional level too. This is evident among the followers of two regional parties in AP TDP & YSRCP. We see a huge amount of dirty tricks being played by the followers to the extent one doesn't know who is telling the truth.

In the process anyone who tries to reason out will be either called a secularist, Bhakt or a patriot. So be prepared to be branded when you want to be active in the social media in addition to be trolled either way.