A growing scepticism toward social media platforms is reshaping how Indians consume information, with surveys revealing a sharp erosion of trust due to rampant misinformation and ethical lapses. The 2025 Reuters Institute Digital News Report for India highlights that only 28% of respondents trust news on social media, down from 35% the previous year, fuelled by concerns over fake news and algorithmic biases.
This mirrors global trends but hits harder in India, the world's largest social media market with over 500 million users, where platforms like WhatsApp and X have amplified communal tensions and electoral disinformation. Yet, podcasts are emerging as a beacon of perceived reliability, boasting a 40% listenership surge in 2025, per a KPMG report. But is this trust justified, or does it overlook similar pitfalls in long-form audio content?
The roots of social media distrust in India run deep, intertwining technological flaws with socio-political realities. Research from the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) shows false information spreads six times faster on platforms like Facebook and Twitter during events like the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, exacerbating polarisation on issues from caste to citizenship. Heavy usage correlates with mental health woes; a 2025 NIMHANS study links excessive scrolling among urban youth to a 25% rise in anxiety and depression cases, echoing global findings like those from former Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen.
In India, the government's 2023 IT Rules mandate content moderation, yet enforcement remains spotty, with platforms accused of prioritising profits over user safety. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer's India chapter reports just 32% trust in social media companies, the lowest among media forms, underscoring a crisis where virality trumps veracity.
Podcasts, by contrast, enjoy a halo of authenticity in India, where monthly consumption has doubled to 120 million listeners since 2023, according to Statista. True crime shows like "The Seen and the Unseen" and Hindi-language discussions on Spotify and JioSaavn draw audiences seeking depth over dopamine hits. Listeners appreciate the deliberate engagement—choosing episodes over infinite scrolls—and the parasocial bonds with hosts like Amit Varma or Nikhil Kamath, whom a 2025 Ormax Media survey rated 65% more trustworthy than influencers. Political figures, from Narendra Modi to Rahul Gandhi, leveraged podcasts during the 2024 campaigns, signalling their rising clout. This intimacy fosters perceptions of nuance and credibility, absent in social media's echo chambers.
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However, evidence suggests this trust may be overstated. A 2025 study by the Centre for Media Studies analysed 5,000 Indian podcast episodes, finding 62% contained unverified claims, particularly in political and health segments, with misinformation on topics like COVID vaccines persisting from the pandemic era. Toxic rhetoric, including casteist slurs in regional-language shows, mirrors social media's divisiveness, per a Trivedi Centre for Political Data report. Unlike regulated TV, podcasts operate in a lightly touched space, with self-hosted platforms evading the IT Rules' scrutiny. High-profile cases, such as retracted episodes on "Sandeep Maheshwari" for promoting pseudoscience, reveal accountability gaps. While social media's scale amplifies harms, podcasts' niche appeal can entrench biases among loyal audiences, warranting equal caution.
Navigating India's fractured media ecosystem demands critical vigilance over blind faith in any format. Digital literacy initiatives, like the Ministry of Electronics and IT's 2025 iGOT Karmayogi module, must extend to audio content, teaching verification tools from FactCheck.org to reverse image searches. Platforms—be they Meta or Spotify—should enforce transparent algorithms, sponsorship disclosures, and fact-checking partnerships, as recommended by the 2024 Standing Committee on IT.
The government's proposed Digital India Act could impose a "duty of care" on all digital media, mandating proactive harm mitigation without stifling free speech. Ultimately, a robust information landscape hinges on sceptical consumers, ethical creators, and enforceable norms. In a nation where 800 million internet users grapple with truth's fluidity, podcasts offer respite but not redemption—trust must be earned, not assumed.
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