Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted Monday that he was thinking about giving up on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts.
Modi, whose 53 million followers on Twitter make him one of the most popular figures on the microblogging social network, did not mention as to why he has taken the decision.
This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2020
On his Facebook page, he has more than 44 million followers; on Instagram, 35.2 million; and 4.5 million on Google’s video platform.
It would be a stark departure from how he has used his social media accounts over the years. Modi, and his political party Bharatiya Janata Party, have used Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp and several other internet services very efficiently to promote their messages and agendas, something that played a key role in his re-election last year.
For Modi, quitting social media may at least bring some peace to him. Some of the people he has chosen to follow have been found inciting violence and spreading false information on numerous occasions, according to several analysts.
Reacting to the news, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi told PM Narendra Modi to give up “hatred” and “not social media”.
Give up hatred, not social media accounts. pic.twitter.com/HDymHw2VrB
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 2, 2020