War and Peace in the Age of Social Media: A Fundamental Duty in the Digital Age

In the digital era, where information flows at the speed of a click, and where a single tweet can spark international debate and a viral video can sway public opinion, the concepts of war and peace have evolved beyond conventional battlefields. Social media platforms, once tools for casual communication, now serve as powerful arenas where narratives of conflict and harmony unfold in real-time. As this transformation accelerates, it becomes imperative to revisit our Fundamental Duties as citizens—particularly the duty to uphold harmony, truth, and the spirit of inquiry in a hyperconnected world.

The New Digital Battlefield

Today, wars are not just fought on land, sea, and air, but also on timelines, hashtags, threads, livestreams and viral videos. Social media has become a strategic tool for both military propaganda and citizen resistance. Governments, organisations, and individuals use platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Telegram, WhatsApp and Instagram to broadcast messages that can either de-escalate tensions or inflame them. Images and messages—sometimes misleading, sometimes deeply emotional—can galvanise support, provoke outrage, or incite violence, often in real-time. The battle for truth often competes with a flood of misinformation, memes, and emotional manipulation.

Information as a Weapon, and a Responsibility

The democratisation of information has also led to its weaponisation. Disinformation, deepfakes, and doctored narratives can manipulate public opinion and influence international responses. They often distort facts and inciting hatred. In some cases, governments use social media to justify military actions, while in others, citizen journalism exposes atrocities that may have otherwise gone unseen. The line between truth and fiction becomes dangerously thin. In such a scenario, the Fundamental Duty under Article 51A(h) of the Indian Constitution — “to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”—becomes more than an ethical call; it becomes a civic obligation. In times of conflict, it is the responsibility of every citizen to verify before amplifying, to question before believing, and to engage in discourse rooted in facts and empathy.

Voices for Peace, and Hope

However, social media is not only a tool of war—it is equally a vehicle for peace. Activists, diplomats, and citizens use these platforms to build bridges across divides, document human rights abuses, mobilise humanitarian aid, share stories of solidarity, demand accountability and call for ceasefires. Hashtags like #PeaceNow or #VoicesOfHope become digital movements that transcend borders. Here, the Fundamental Duty to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood [Article 51A(e) of the Indian Constitution] finds digital expression—urging us to reject communal, sectarian, or ideological divisions and uphold the dignity of all.

A Collective Digital Duty

In the complex landscape of today, social media users are no longer passive consumers of information; they are active participants in shaping the global narrative. Similarly, social media companies are the gatekeepers of global discourse. As such, it is the duty of citizens to treat the sharing of information as a moral and constitutional duty. This includes refraining from content that promotes hate, division, or violence, and instead amplifying voices of reason, compassion, and coexistence.

Conclusion: Peace as a Shared Responsibility

The age of social media has changed how we experience both war and peace. Social media is both a mirror and a magnifier of our deepest divides and highest aspirations. In such times, Fundamental Duties are not mere legal principles; they are guiding lights. They remind us that peace is not just the absence of war—it is the presence of informed, responsible, and empathetic citizenship. As we scroll, share, and engage, may we do so with the awareness that each digital act contributes to the world we collectively build—either a world divided by rage or united in peace.