The monitoring has helped the police identify and act against provocative and prohibited online content, by registering cases against the individuals who post such material on their social media handles.
Beyond the traditional culture of banners and wall posters, social media promotion has carved out a firm position in promoting events and functions. Posts announcing programmes, schedules and other local events are often followed by banner displays and other promotional activities.
However, the unimaginable expansion of social media has also opened avenues for its improper use. Some accounts have been found disseminating provocative, inflammatory and divisive content, while another section of these offenders posts photographs of themselves posing with sharp weapons and other prohibited materials.
According to police sources, the Thoothukudi district police’s social media monitoring team keeps a continuous watch on such content and initiates action against those responsible. The sources added that the team uses a confidential platform to track provocative and prohibited posts and register cases of individuals involved.
“The hashtags used in these posts have always helped in easier tracking in many cases,” sources said.
The sustained monitoring and action have reduced the circulation of provocative, divisive and prohibited content, the sources noted.
Thoothukudi District Superintendent of Police R. Shiva Prasad told The Hindu, “We have a separate social media team to handle such provocative and sensitive posts. The cell is headed by a Sub-Inspector and they regularly monitor social media handles of various organisations and individuals.” He added that a total of 58 cases have been registered in this regard so far this year.