Twitter ban row: Why I am on microblogging site

This is the age of Twitter that drives newsroom day plans. And keeps journalists busy every moment.

Before I tell you why I like to be on Twitter or love this space, I must tell you what prompted me to write this.

On May 25, my timeline was replete with speculations that Twitter may be banned in India.

The Twitterati’s apprehensions — or the Twitter ban row — came against the backdrop of a standoff between the Indian government and Twitter India besides certain guidelines for social media giants such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram.

It was believed they could face a ban in India if they failed to comply with the new intermediary guidelines.

The three-month deadline given by the ministry of electronics & information technology to accept these guidelines ended on May 25.

Incidentally, the “ban” storm came just when on May 24 (Monday, a day earlier), a team of Delhi Police’s Special Cell that works under the Union home ministry visited Twitter India’s Delhi and Gurgaon offices.

It was said the team visited Twitter India offices to “serve the social media platform a notice” following the “manipulated media” controversy involving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders.

Twitter had flagged some posts by BJP leaders as “manipulated media”.

Earlier, amid the farmers’ protests — when Twitter refused to take down certain tweets — the government accused Twitter of double standards over events at the US Capitol Hill and the Red Fort on Republic Day.

On Tuesday, as I wondered if Twitter could be banned, various thoughts crossed my mind.

What if Twitter shuts its shop in India and what is it that keeps me thinking too much about Twitter?

Why has Twitter come to occupy so much of our mindspace?

The reasons could be many.

In my case, here is why I am [*before it becomes “was”] on Twitter:

1. To check breaking news.

2. Follow all those journalists who make sense.

3. I am not bound to follow those whom I don’t like even if they have millions of followers.

4. And of course, long reads or lovely opinion pieces that make my day.

5. The thrill of interacting with your icons — journalists, authors, sportsmen and actors — is too much to resist.

6. At a time when questioning the authorities is akin to inviting abuse from trolls and other troubles, it is on Twitter that there is a small chunk of journalists and intelligentia that has kept the government on its toes.

7. It is due to Twitterati that some of the best known personalities from different walks of life met their comeuppance in the #MeToo movement. I saw it unfold.

8. During the Covid II, as pyres burnt across India and the authorities looked the other way, it was on the microblogging space that the common man as well the high and mighty were seeking oxygen beds and Remdesivir injections and were getting it with a horde of journalists and those with influence reaching out to those in need. The “toxic” space was much in demand. In a particular case, a fellow journalist, with 80,000 plus followers, told me he had “helped a few dozen people” (whom he did not know) get beds in hospitals or oxygen cylinders. His claims may not be false, as this writer witnessed numerous cases where people did get help either through Twitter or WhatsApp groups of journalists because of this journalist who works with a top media house.

9. I joined Twitter in 2011, but I became active as late as 2016-17. And I can say Twitter has been a genuine source of enjoyment, news being my passion. You may ask how a “toxic” universe can be fun. My mantra: I am not bound to follow bigots and can shut out abusive trolls.

10. Fact checkers must be hailed. They are the real heroes of modern Indian journalism. A couple of big names follow me (that is an honour for me) and vice versa.

11. Something for the GOP of India that brought us freedom. You may not see their leaders at the grounds, but they are making their presence felt on Twitter. Gradually, they will realise the importance of the real work — and come out of their comfort to follow in the footsteps of Srinivas BV, the Indian Youth Congress president, who defied party barriers to reach out to all those who sought help amid the second wave of Covid-19. Srinivas BV was everywhere, on Twitter as well where he was actually needed. Congress must nurture leaders like these.

10. When someone tweets “booze bad in Gujarat but good in Lakshadweep…”, I get the whole idea from the cryptic message. Even if I miss the story on TV, I saw video clippings on the Lakshadweep crisis trending. Today, Twitter completes you as a journalist. Of course, the rigour of journalism is the fulcrum.

11. I know that India’s diversity is alive and the argumentative Indian is speaking without fear when someone tweets — Few yrs ago when the previous Govt. was being roasted 24/7 on #twitter, no one even considered that the platform could be banned

Now cuz twitter put a tag of #manupulatedmedia, we are discussing if twitter would be shut down tomorrow

THIS is how democracies slide into darkness…

12. Amid an open session on Islamophobia — when hate messages are devouring the syncretic culture and Jawaharlal Nehru becomes a hate figure — I see numerous messages on Eid and Diwali. On Nehru’s death anniversary  — when this piece is being written — I see wishes pouring in for the architect of modern India with newspaper clippings of the tales on how he wrote books, including Glimpses of World History, in jail while he had no references to help. I find this part of Twitter enlightening.

13. Being followed by a sports historian and descendent of Bill Ponsford — Don Bradman’s partner in crime — is a high that nothing can match for a (Test) cricket fanatic.

PS: The biggest enjoyment comes from my small circle of colleagues and friends with whom I share an enormous amount of readable stuff from international publications and top-class fact-check pieces.

*Nothing of that kind is going to happen. Twitter is here to stay. I do hope that social media, of which Twitter is a strong arm, continues to give voice to the voiceless for democracy to survive.