Coimbatore, May 21:
DMK deputy general secretary Kanimozhi on Wednesday urged people, particularly youngsters, to exercise caution while consuming information on social media and stressed the need for rational thinking in an era of rapid digital communication.
Addressing a self-respect marriage ceremony in Coimbatore, she warned against the unchecked spread of misinformation on platforms such as Instagram and WhatsApp, noting that unverified claims are often accepted as truth without assessing their consequences.
“Social media can be used both to share positive content and to circulate unverified information. Many people tend to believe false claims without verification, failing to understand the impact of misinformation. False narratives spread much faster through social media,” she said.
Referring to a recent misleading claim circulating online, Kanimozhi pointed out that a wrong impression was being created that Tamil Nadu had got its first woman minister, urging people to apply the rational thinking advocated by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.
She also called upon the younger generation to understand the contributions of Periyar and the Dravidian movement towards social justice, equality, and rational thought, which have played a crucial role in shaping modern Tamil society.
“Today, women have crossed several barriers and emerged as educated and accomplished individuals. This transformation did not happen overnight. Leaders of the Dravidian movement fought for decades to bring about this social change,” she said.
Highlighting the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools, Kanimozhi noted that such technologies could sometimes generate inaccurate or misleading responses. She urged youngsters to cultivate a questioning mindset while staying rooted in their language, culture, and values.