PM Modi ‘thinking of’ going offline, social media abuzz

NEWDELHI:Social media was abuzz on Monday night after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced, on social media, that he was thinking of giving up social media this Sunday.

“This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube,” he said on Twitter. It wasn’t immediately clear whether the Prime Minister, one of the most followed people on social media, plans to give up these platforms for good, or merely practice digital detox, which he has previously advocated, for a day a week.

“Will keep you posted,” the PM’s tweet tantalizingly ended.

Officials at the PMO couldn’t immediately be reached for comment. PM has 53.3 million followers on Twitter, 44 million followers on Facebook, 35.2 million followers on Instagram, and 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube.

The PM’s tweet was retweeted by many from his party, including the chief of the BJP’s IT cell Amit Malviya. Soon after, a hashtag #nosir also began to trend soon, with most people urging

› This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

NARENDRA MODI, PM in a tweet

Modi to not give up his presence on social media platforms.

Malviya said: “As the PM’s tweet said, we must wait till Sunday to see what happens next..”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was quick on the trigger on Twitter: “Give up hatred, not social media accounts.”

There was speculation that the PM’s tweet could signal a new

social media policy or the launch of a platform operated in India, with local data storage. There has been a long-standing demand from the RSS to have India-built systems for data storage. In October, the Centre told Supreme Court of its intent to introduce rules to regulate social media. It also said it would need three months to formulate the rules to regulate such platforms so as to curb circulation of fake news.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala also tweeted, “Respected Modi ji, Earnestly wish you would give this advise to the concerted army of trolls, who abuse-intimidate-badger-threaten others every second in you name! Sincere Regards, Citizens of India.”