Garima Chaudhary shares her reactions to Instagram muting her reels criticising the government’s actions and its impact on freedom of speech on social media platforms.
Our thoughts and opinions make us who we are. Some voice them openly, but many who can’t, social media becomes a stage that goes beyond the perimeters of their voice, space and borders. You see how these platforms lets you express your concern and reaction, along with opinions over subjects that matter to you. Opinions on politics, which often include criticism, have attracted backlash and trolls. For years, social media gave that voice to the people, allowing them to openly question policies and politicians. But lately, it seems this democratic space is being encroached upon by entities that scan every post, track every comment, and monitor every like.
In the name of national security and sentiment, every social media platform is limiting voices, controlling the narrative and using this space for propaganda. The space for free speech is shrinking rapidly, and one good example is the muting of Garima Chaudhary‘s videos. Beyond being a professional actor and model, she’s also a content creator who uses her page to not only document her life but also share her views on issues that matter to her. Recently, four of her reels, that criticised the government’s policies and actions, were silenced by Instagram without any prior notice or warning. Taking us through her experience, Garima sat with us to share her understanding of the shrinking space for freedom of speech on social media and its extent.
Here is what she shared:
You’re known to share your views on Instagram, but how did it start and why this platform?
Honestly, it didn’t start with a strategy. I was already using Instagram to document my life, travels, small observations, and everyday experiences. Over time, I realised that many of those experiences were connected to larger social issues.
Instagram just felt like the most immediate space to talk about them. People are already there, conversations happen instantly, and you can reach people directly without waiting for a traditional platform to give you space. So it slowly became a place where I share not just my life, but also my thoughts about the society we live in.
