Social media can be defined as the computer-based platform that helps people to communicate and share information through multiple websites and applications enabling users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. It comprises 5 major networking platforms, namely, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter and TikTok. This network helps users to participate with freedom to share their thoughts, which was not possible before. Where social media has positive impacts, it also has negative impacts, such as the spread of fake news and disinformation.

Social media platforms have serious consequences on society if they are used for hate speech, spreading propaganda, incitement to violence and political disinformation. Another major negative impact of social media is its severe impact on the mental health of its users as the platforms are often used for cyberbullying and online harassment.

The advancement of science and the dominance of social media post 2004 brought unimaginable changes and provided states as well as individuals with freedom of expression and opinion. However, with the passage of time, negative impacts of social media started to surface. Spread of false information on social media is for defamation of personalities and institutions most of the time. Disinformation campaigns include distortion of facts with the intention to manipulate public opinion. It is a major challenge for democracies all over the world.

As we are living through the digital era, we rely more on social media for news and updates. As recent developments suggest, an individual cannot totally rely upon the information from the social websites as distortion and deception are rampant. At the domestic level, we have a current example of deliberate social media campaigns to defame Pakistan’s armed forces. These campaigns encompass a number of strategies such as spreading of false or mis-leading information and the augmentation of unfavorable remarks via fake accounts or bots and the use of hashtags and other online tools to spread misinformation. These disinformation tactics used on social media are designed to weaken public support for the Armed Forces of Pakistan to create a situation of mistrust, conflict and chaos among the nation.

Disinformation has become a dangerous component of a larger fifth generation warfare strategy and it comprises up of all non-violent strategies that are used in the form of propaganda and psychological tactics to accomplish one’s’ goals and will also shape public opinion because it is difficult for the readers to differentiate between a credible and unreliable source of information.

At the international level, there is an investigative report on “Israeli contractor’s team behind fake social media campaign in India”, which is a part of story killers and in a collaboration led by forbidden stories and was inspired by the work of Gauri Lankesh published on 16^th February,2023. The report claims that a team of Israeli contractors is in connection with a software program to operate a false social media campaign across several countries including India. Further, the report investigates that this Israeli team had interfered with more than 30 elections around the world. This team known as “Team Jorge ” is linked with a software package named “Advanced Impact Media Solutions” (AIMS) to commercial clients. This unit is run by Tal Hanan, a 50 years old former Israeli special forces operative who works privately. The report reveals how disinformation is being weaponized by Team Jorge to secretly manipulate the public opinion. It elaborates on how the team is collectively working to gather information by using hacking techniques to access Gmail and Telegram accounts to cause disruption and chaos.

The technique and methods elaborated by the Team Jorge raises new challenges as disinformation becomes a threat for the state and results in security breaches of a state. Secondly, disinformation which has this kind of strong influence especially in the elections of a state rings alarm bells for all the democracies around the world.

The harms of social media are numerous and far reaching. Hence, the government and social media corporations must come to an agreement to address these problematic situations regarding disinformation on social media. However, bulk of information must be prevented without compromising on freedom of expression and speech which is one of the fundamental tenets of a democratic state. Besides, this society should also take a proactive approach to deal with the negative impacts of social media and should ensure that the platform must be used for peaceful purposes in a productive manner. If this does not happen on time it might pave the way for restrictions and serve as justification for authoritarianism.