North-East folks: No to SMSes, yes to social media?

BANGALORE, INDIA: As the mass exodus of North-Eastern people from southern cities like Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad continued on Friday, the Centre took a call to ban bulk SMSes and MMSes for 15 days.

It seems the right move and need of the hour, as it is believed at this point that such messages through mobiles and online platforms have only made people press the panic button.

After announcing a ban on bulk SMSes and MMSes, Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh, said, "We will detect those who are spreading rumours. Those responsible for the exodus from Bangalore will not go scot free."

At the same time, some people we contacted expressed concern that some social platforms still continue to have pages, groups and messages that might aggravate the situation.

"For instance, there are several groups on Facebook that spread false rumors and malicious information, that include details on Muslims being threatened or subjected to harassment or violence in different parts of the country and outside, primarily because of the North-East people. It is completely incorrect, as former Police Commissioner of Bangalore Dr H.T. Sangliana has clearly stated, and is being blown out of proportion," said a North-East student from St. Joseph's college, who didn't want to be identified.

One such group some of the students are pointing at is this: http://on.fb.me/Oq4WFz.

A lecturer from Bangalore, who is actually from Mizoram, said that though many of them from both sides are making attempts on social media platforms to restore peace between the communities, some people with ulterior motives are ruining it by such acts. He added that it would make more sense for the government to consider screening such content as well.

It has become a case, in which social media appears both a boon and a bane. What do you think?