‘Will keep you posted’: PM Modi says he is considering quitting social media
NEW DELHI : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening said he is considering “giving up” his social media accounts, prompting thousands of appeals to him to stay but getting a cold response from the Congress party.
“This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted,” said Modi on Twitter at 8.56pm.
PM Modi hinted at the possibility that he might leave social media, giving up his accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube this coming Sunday. Modi, however, said that he will keep his followers posted regarding whatever decision he takes in this matter.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted.”
At the time of writing this report, Prime Minister Modi has 53.3 million followers on Twitter, 44,600,634 followers on Facebook (44,725,368 likes), 4.51 million subscribers on YouTube, and 35.2 million followers on Instagram.
Ever since the Prime Minister posted the tweet, social media has been abuzz with talks, discussing why Modi would suddenly announce taking such a step. While some have said that it is a good step, in that it is natural for even the PM of the world’s largest democracy to take a break from social media, others have expressed disappointment in him leaving.
Several people have asked that if the Prime Minister gives up social media, how will the ordinary citizens get their daily updates about Modi’s personal and campaign details.
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi captured a screenshot of the Prime Minister’s tweet and posted it on Twitter, with the caption, “Give up hatred, not social media accounts.”
Prime Minister’s surprise announcement that he will be going off social media from Sunday has created quite a flutter on social media. Twitter exploded within minutes of the unexpected tweet that has left everyone wondering why.
Soon after, Opposition leaders’ reactions started pouring in. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was one of the first to comment and said, “Give up hatred, not social media accounts.”
Tripura Chief Minister and BJP leader Biplab Deb had a response to the former Congress chief’s tweet.”So that’s the reason Sonia Gandhi doesn’t have any Social Media account?” Mr Deb tweeted tagging Rahul Gandhi’s tweet.
Rahul Gandhi’s mother and current Congress chief Sonia Gandhi is not on social media. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had a request for the Prime Minister soon after the tweet.Earnestly wish you would give this advise to the concerted army of trolls, who abuse-intimidate-badger-threaten others every second in you name!
“Foreign leaders will just miss your congratulatory messages in different languages,” she tweeted. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti too replied to the Prime Minister saying that the move was “appreciated.””The toxicity of this medium is a bane,” he tweeted.
Gujarat politician Jignesh Mevani also had something to say to the Prime Minister. Asking why is PM Modi quitting social media after the much publicised “Digital India” programme of the BJP government.
He also urged the Prime Minister to stop following accounts of hate-mongering people who disrespect women instead of quitting social media. PM Modi, who is a social media celebrity with millions of followers on various platforms, did not elaborate the reason behind his sudden change of mind.
