UPSC Mains 2025 GS4 Q1 — Social media ethics
In the present digital age, social media has revolutionised our way of communication and interaction. However, it has raised several ethical issues and challenges. Describe the key ethical dilemmas in this regard. (Answer in 150 words)
Similar Previous Year Questions
No closely related PYQs found in our 11-year corpus — this question explores a relatively unique angle. We only surface matches with substantive topical overlap, not loose adjacency.
Related Prelims MCQs
Build factual foundation — these MCQs cover facts/concepts you'll need for this Mains question.
-
IAS 2022 Blockchain and Web3
With reference to Web 3-0, consider the following statements : 1. Web 3.0 technology enables people to control their own data. 2. In Web 3.0 world, there can be blockchain based social networks. 3. Web 3.0 is operated by users collectively rather than a corporation. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
-
IAS 2018 Science and technology initiatives
Which of the following is/are the aim/aims of "Digital India" Plan of the Government of India ? 1. Formation of India's own Internet companies like China did. 2. Establish a policy framework to encourage overseas multinational corporations that collect Big Data to build their large data centres within our national geographical boundaries. 3. Connect many of our villages to the Internet and bring Wi-Fi to many of our schools, public places and major tourist centres. Select the correct answer using the code given below :
-
CDS-II 2018 Governance, Policies & Social Justice
Mission Satyanishtha, a programme on ethics in public governance, was launched recently by the
Source Map — where to read
"Answer the following questions in about 30 words. • (i) Explain retail trading service.• (ii) Describe quaternary services.• (iii) Name the fast emerging countries of medical tourism in the world.• (iv) What is digital divide? 3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words. • (i) Discuss the significance and growth of the service sector in modern economic development.• (ii) Explain in detail the significance of transport and communication services.…"
"You read about the word 'dharma' (dhamma in Prakrit) in Grade 6. Its essence cannot be easily captured. In simple terms, dharma means moral law or someone's religious or ethical duties towards family, community or country. At a deeper level, however, dharma extends to living according to the order of the universe or ṛitam. This includes doing one's duty truthfully, following rules of righteous conduct and leading a life in harmony with the cosmic order. Dharma is, therefore, duty, law, truth, order and ethics—all of it together!…"
"India's electoral system is celebrated as the world's largest democratic exercise. However, like all systems, it faces its share of challenges. Issues such as the growing influence of money in elections, a significant proportion of candidates with criminal records, and voter apathy, (particularly in urban areas), raise important questions about the health and future of our democracy. The way forward lies in empowering voters with the information they need to make thoughtful and responsible choices. Media, education, and awareness campaigns must work together to help people, especially the yout…"
"• 2 . Answer the following questions in about 30 words. • (i) Which activity does transportation convey? Name three major modes of transportation.• (ii) Discuss advantages and disadvantages of pipeline transportation.• (iii) What do you mean by 'communication'?• 3 . Answer the following questions in about 150 words. • (i) Which are the chief means of transportation in India? Discuss the factors affecting their development.• (ii) Give a detailed account of the development of railways in India and highlight their importance.• (iii) Describe the role of roads in the economic development of India.…"
"Poultry farming is the practice of raising poultry, such as chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, as a subcategory of animal husbandry, for the purpose of farming meat or eggs for food. It requires small capital and provides additional income and job opportunities to a large number of rural population in the shortest possible time. The vast majority of poultry are farmed using factory farming techniques; according to the Worldwatch Institute, 75% of the world's poultry meat, and 70% of eggs are produced in this way. The contrasting method of poultry farming in free range and friction between the tw…"
How this topic is evolving
The ethical focus has shifted from the general 'impact' of social media on communication to a specific conflict between sovereign regulatory mandates and digital rights. The discourse is now anchored in the 'IT Rules 2025' and the 'DPDPA 2023', moving from social dilemmas to the ethicality of algorithm-level governance and state-led identity mandates like SIM binding.
While the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023 and the IT Rules 2025 aim to secure the digital landscape, they raise significant ethical concerns regarding 'surveillance capitalism' and state paternalism. Critically examine the ethical dilemmas arising from the tension between digital sovereignty and the individual's right to digital access under Article 21. (Answer in 150 words)
Why this framing: The Supreme Court's 2025 declaration that digital access is inherent in the Right to Life under Article 21.
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Describe
- Scope keywords
- digital agesocial mediaethical issues and challengesethical dilemmas
- Implicit sub-parts
- Identify specific conflicts between competing values (e.g., privacy vs. security).
- Analyze the responsibility of stakeholders: users, tech corporations, and the state.
- Propose ethical frameworks or principles for navigation of these dilemmas.
- Common pitfalls
- Writing a generic essay on the 'disadvantages' of social media rather than specifically identifying 'ethical dilemmas' (clash of values).
- Focusing too much on technical/legal issues like cybercrime or data breaches without analyzing the underlying moral questions.
- Neglecting the 'digital age' context, such as algorithmic bias or echo chambers, focusing only on traditional interpersonal issues.
- Failing to provide a balanced conclusion that acknowledges the 'revolutionary' communication benefits mentioned in the prompt.
- Dimensions required
- Individual ethics (privacy, mental health)Societal ethics (polarization, hate speech)Corporate ethics (profit vs. accountability)Political ethics (surveillance, democratic integrity)
- Marks allocation hint
Spend approximately 30 words on a brief introduction acknowledging the dual nature of social media. Allocate 90-100 words to the core ethical dilemmas, ensuring each point contrasts two competing values. Use the final 20-30 words for a way-forward based on ethical governance or digital citizenship.
How examiners have framed this topic over the years
Evolution from broad digital governance and infrastructure toward specific, nuanced ethical dilemmas and security risks inherent in social media platforms.
The examiner’s lens has shifted from high-level systemic impacts, such as e-Governance in 2020 (GS2) and digital illiteracy's role in socio-economic development in 2021 (GS2), toward a granular critique of social media’s dark side. While 2024 (GS3) focused on the security mechanics of encrypted messaging, the 2023 (GS4) and 2025 (GS4) questions converged on behavioral ethics, moving from a case-based analysis of personal vs. professional conduct in 2023 to a theoretical abstraction of 'key ethical dilemmas' in the digital age by 2025.
PYQs this pattern was synthesized from
Answer Skeleton — fill this in
Introduction
Social media has transitioned from a networking tool to a "digital public square," democratizing information while simultaneously creating a normative vacuum where traditional ethical boundaries are blurred. This revolution necessitates a balance between technological efficiency and moral accountability.
Privacy vs. Data Monetization
The Dilemma of Informed Consent
- Surveillance Capitalism: The ethical conflict of treating personal data as a commodity versus the Fundamental Right to Privacy [Laxmikant, Ch.7].
- Opacity of Terms: Challenges regarding "meaningful consent" in complex algorithmic data harvesting [NCERT Class 12 Sociology, Ch.4].
Freedom of Speech vs. Harm Prevention
The Challenge of Content Regulation
- Misinformation: The tension between maintaining an open internet and curbing "fake news" that incites communal disharmony [Yojana, Tech & Ethics Issue].
- Hate Speech: Identifying the thin line between Reasonable Restrictions (Art 19[2]) and censorship by private intermediaries.
Algorithmic Neutrality vs. Cognitive Autonomy
Impact on Social Cohesion
- Echo Chambers: Algorithms prioritizing engagement over truth, leading to polarization and "filter bubbles."
- Digital Well-being: Ethical concerns over addictive design patterns affecting the mental health of vulnerable demographics [Economic Survey, Digital Infrastructure].
Accountability and Governance
The Intermediary Responsibility
- Safe Harbor Ethics: Whether platforms should be treated as neutral conduits or proactive publishers of content [PRS, IT Rules 2021].
- Anonymity: The struggle between protecting whistleblowers and preventing cyber-bullying through untraceable accounts.
Conclusion
The path forward requires "Digital Humanism," where technology serves human values rather than exploiting human vulnerabilities. Strengthening the Code of Ethics for digital platforms and fostering media literacy among citizens is essential to ensure a safe and ethical digital ecosystem.
Ready to practice?
Take this question, write your own answer in 150 words, and get an instant, rubric-based evaluation showing where you stand.
Open evaluation workspace →