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87,000 groups on WhatsApp targeting voters

  •   Sun, Mar 24 2019 11:58:03 AM

By Nishant Arora

New Delhi, Mar 24 (IANS): The first phase of voting begins from April 11 and WhatsApp - and not its parent company Facebook - has turned out to be the biggest social media platform for more than 87,000 groups to target millions with political messaging.

According to WhatsApp, over 20 crore Monthly Active Users (MAUs) are using its platform in India, but the fact is that these numbers are dated back to February 2017 and the company has not shared latest India numbers for over two years now.

India today has nearly 43 crore smartphone users, according to Hong Kong-based Counterpoint Research.

If we go by these numbers, 20 crore can't be a right figure as almost every smartphone owner - from your grandpa to the maid at home -- uses WhatsApp and is a potential target for the groups working round-the-clock to reach them.

"By the end of 2016, India had nearly 28-30 crore smartphone users. Today, it has crossed 40 crore.

"People across age-groups are using WhatsApp so it is safe to say that the Facebook-owned platform reaches over 30 crore Indians, almost to the size of Facebook users in the country or even bigger," Tarun Pathak, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research, told IANS.

With Reliance Jio, data has gone ultra-cheap and political parties are now seen to livestream rallies, press meets and TV debates on Facebook and YouTube to reach their target audiences in the hinterlands.

"Over 87,000 groups aiming to influence the voters are currently active on WhatsApp. From fake statistics related to various government policies to news promoting regional violence, manipulated political news, government scams, historical myths, propaganda to patriotism and Hindu nationalism -- WhatsApp has it all in the election season," informed social media expert Anoop Mishra.

One WhatsApp Group can have a maximum of 256 users so these 87,000 groups can reach over 2.2 crore people directly.

Now imagine one user from these groups forwarding one message to five (maximum forward limit on WhatsApp) and these groups can actually engage a much bigger audience in their mission to influence voters.

Realising the importance of curbing fake news, WhatsApp has launched several initiatives, from awareness programmes on dangers of fake news on TV, radio and digital platforms to limiting the number of forwards to five.

It has also tied up with the Nasscom Foundation to train nearly 1,00,000 Indians to spot false information and provide tips and tricks to stay safe on WhatsApp.

"We're pleased that the recent changes we've made to limit viral content and educate users is having an impact. This work is never done -- there is more that we can and will do," WhatsApp India head Abhijit Bose said in a statement recently.

WhatsApp, including other social media firms, will now have to process any request from the Election Commission to take down content within three hours during the 48-hour period before voting days.

The task is enormous and the stakes are high.

"WhatsApp has been trying to curb the spread of fake news but has got a little success in doing so. Let us see how the things unfold as we enter the crucial election time," added Mishra.
  

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Comment on this article

  • SD, Bangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Block Whats App one week before election. So people can vote from their heart for peace of mind and safety of all regardless of their religion.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Roshan, Mangaluru

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    The plan is simple, but very effective. Get its members run social platform groups where one has to just type jai hind, jai ram, amen, like whatever. Once done they are always there. Then the group will start putting half baked video and messages with full distortion of facts. The images remain and they get aligned to the thinking of group admins.

    Recently, in the student interaction one student asked him a question on Vadra, his brother in law. The BJP circulated video made mockery of Rahul, with edited contents. Three of my colleagues strong BJP supporters, had a fantastic time watching it, till the time I showed the true video.
    Now, they are absolutely against BJP. They love their country more than Modi.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Praveen, mlore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    BJPeee is the No.1 party in misUsing Social Media by spreading Fake News..

    Even for Sharing they get paid..

    even some corporates companies sponsoring these IT people just spread the Fake news..

    Some time in Twiter using BOT's to spread Fake news..

    Shame on those spreading fake news...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • geoffrey, hat hill

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    You are right, now the fake news has reached the legendary Cry Wolf proportions and even the genuine stuff also taken as fake.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    There are groups operating from Pakistan to influence voters in India. They try to play the divides and get their combination right.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • JML Joseph, Mangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    WHY VOTE IS IMPORTANT ?While there are some who genuinely cast their vote, many people sit back and relax on voting day, and others are cajoled into voting for particular candidates. The importance of voting is lost amongst the hustle and bustle of city life. While everyone sits and complains about this and that, and makes suggestions that the government should change this and that, the elections come and go without half the population paying attention. The highest recorded voter turnout in India was recorded in 2014 for the Lok Sabha elections at 66.4%. That means close to half the population does not exercise their right to vote.

    After 72 years of Independence, India has not proved itself to have control and order. The fault lies with both the leaders and the people. People are driven by religious beliefs rather than what is good for the country. We should choose that which drives the country forward, while still upholding the Indian tradition. But politics is wound up in frivolous matters rather than paying more attention to uplifting the poor, helping the aged, education, water, preserving the environment, agriculture, roads, planned urban development, and so on.
    Your vote counts - Every vote counts. Though it seems like an endless sea of people are there to vote, every vote counts. When the national attitude changes from thinking “my vote doesn’t make a difference”, then the numbers increase and a multitude of people voting will make the difference. The responsibility lies on every individual.
    NOTA - The Government of India has made the provision for voters to exercise their vote even if they are not happy with any of the candidates. NOTA stands for None of the Above and this is an important vote to cast for those who aren’t satisfied by any of the parties standing. Voting NOTA expresses that none of the candidates are good enough. NOTA votes count, however in case the majority of the votes are NOTA, then the party with the next majority will come to power.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Shekhar Prasad, Udupi

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Half the group operating from across fence in favour of congress.

    DisAgree [10] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ediboy, mangalore

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    This info from whatsapp university right?

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Raj, Banglagudde, Karkala

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Block watsapp until election results are announced for peaceful election and to stop fake news

    DisAgree [1] Agree [20] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Mar 24 2019

    Imagine the amount of FEKUGIRI ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse


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