Negative effects of misusing Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech in a democracy could even be deemed the most important right. This right serves to keep the Government in check. It is made for the people by the people in this Republic. However, while with the advent in technology and social media platforms especially normal people have been made more aware of their rights, people on these applications still are not completely aware of how it can be misused and lead to harmful consequences. A small post on social media, that utilizes Freedom of Speech to propagate hate can lead to huge community riots. Misuse of this right to can actually and has even harmed the fraternity of the country. 

Freedom of speech is being grossly misused these days on social media platforms. Opinionated but an uninformed crowd is active on these platforms and this has led to the misuse of the fundamental right since most of these people have made up their opinions based on other’s opinions as a chain reaction instead of informing themselves completely about an issue. This has given rise to mob mentality, where people follow a catalyst or person and reflect their emotions instead of forming their own judgment individually. 

Due to the advent in social media platforms, it has also become easy for people to misuse this right and defame others or spread rumors about someone in the name of freedom of speech. While there are criminal laws against defamation, there also exists loophole which people certainly use to get away with their ill intentions. 

While censorship is bad, it is detrimental, there needs to be a certain amount of surveillance on the things that people express on the internet just because they can do so anonymously, in most cases.  Freedom of speech and expression, when it is not controlled adequately, can and will eventually lead to communal disharmony and chaos.