Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Lecture organised

The Bhupen Hazarika School of Mass Communication under Krishna Kanta Handiqui State Open University observed the 13^th death anniversary of Bhupen Hazarika by holding the  Bhupen Hazarika Memorial Lecture on 5^th November, 2024. The lecture , which was held at the city campus of the University located in Khanapara was delivered by Shri Rajib Lochan Borthakur, senior Indian Information Service Officer and the Regional Officer of the Central Board of Film Certification, Guwahati. Dwelling on the topic ‘Social media Algorithms and India’s proposed Digital India Act’, the resource person said that it is necessary to understand the intricacies of social media algorithms - not merely as a means to count likes in Facebook, Instagram or YouTube, but also as a strategic tool to ensure relevance, timeliness and genuine engagement. He said that such algorithms analyse various factors to prioritize and recommend posts , videos or advertisements based on user preferences and behaviour. Shri Borthakur then goes on to talk about how social media algorithms work. He also mentioned that understanding social media algorithms can help users navigate platforms effectively and tailor their feeds to suit their interests. He was of the opinion that the Digital India Act which was unveiled on 9^th March, 2023 as a replacement for the Information Technology Act of 2000 (IT Act) marks a pivotal stride in securing a future for India that is both safe and innovative within the digital realm. Shri Borthakur said that the Indian government is moving forward with ambitious plans to regulate the operation of social media algorithms through the proposed Digital India Act (DIA), a piece of legislation that aims to address growing concerns around data privacy, misinformation, and content moderation. It emanated from the discussion that the Act is expected to hold social media companies accountable for how they prioritize and distribute content on their platforms.