From selfies to slogan: how Instagram is becoming India’s newest political battleground

Ankit Pandey posted a video of men praying on the railway platform, sparking outrage and leading to increased political content consumption on Instagram. Political parties are increasingly using short-form videos, memes, and AI-generated content to reach young voters. This trend has led to concerns about misinformation and censorship as governments attempt to control the spread of political messaging on the platform. While some creators see opportunities for engagement and influence, others worry about the impact of short attention spans and the potential for disinformation. Despite the rise in political content, many voters still rely on longer-form videos like YouTube for their political information.