‘Use social media for constructive purposes’

People getting easily distracted, leading to loss of productivity, says Anbumani

Social media should be used for constructive purposes like healthcare and education, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the TNYTF & ARR Charitable Trust-2nd Tamil Nadu Social Media Conclave on Sunday, Mr. Anbumani said social media was causing a nearly 20% productivity loss as people at work were easily distracted by it.

“On social media, we don’t know if things are true or not. There is a craze to forward everything without even reading it,” Mr. Anbumani said.

Such obsession to forward things to others could at times be used to frame different narratives, as people react emotionally, he added.

Speaking at a panel, Manuraj Shanmugasundaram, DMK spokesperson, said social media had a transformative role. “Social media today has deepened democracies. We are able to hold the tallest political leaders to account. We are able to access various decisions in government, or policy making process. It has brought us closer to the government,” he said.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Anbumani said the party had been ready for the past six months to face the Lok Sabha polls. Asked on the party’s alliance plans, he said “a lot of what is being said in the media is just speculation”. “Our aim is to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights,” he added.

On the controversy over the Kodanad heist and murder case, he said, “Whoever is responsible, should be punished. A neutral investigation must happen”. Later, actor Gautami who spoke at the conference said a CBI probe must be initiated into the death of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.