Is Social Media Deciding Elections In India? Heated Debate At NDTV Yuva 2026

Is Instagram becoming the new election battlefield in India? At NDTV Yuva 2026, a high-energy panel featuring Anish Gawande (NCP-SP), Rhiya Ahir, Sidharth Yadav (BJP) and Ayush Nambiar debated the growing influence of social media on politics, youth engagement and public discourse. The discussion touched on everything from India's changing global image and startup ecosystem to allegations of social media control, content moderation and narrative building. Rhiya Ahir questioned whether online voices were truly free, citing restrictions she said were imposed on her Instagram content. BJP spokesperson Sidharth Yadav countered that India's digital revolution flourished under the current government and argued that India's growing startup ecosystem and global standing reflect that change.