You are a senior civil servant in the Ministry of Information & Broadca old daughter an intelligent and sensitive student of Class 12 has been popular influencers and motivational speakers. Recently she became a popular podcast show hosted by a well known social media Pent show claims to champion "free thinking" and covers topics like hustle ¢ Personal transformation and anti institutional narratives. sting. Your 17 year an avid follower of deeply interested in Kunal Bhalla. The masculinity ' s from academic Over time your daughter's behaviour begins to change. She withdraw interests begins idolising internet influencers and adopts rigid opinions a failure and mental health. She starts rejecting family advice hipragt ". pa minds." board preparatory exams and argues that "school is irrelevant 1n the age 0 ee a Concemed you and your spouse try to reason with her but she accuses y ' "closed minded." Matters come to head when you are alerted by your ministry's media ~e a viral video clip where your daughter is seen giving an IMMEIMIEW. O82 al ge platform endorsing radical views on education politics and civil services. 'he Cp public attention because of your designation and journalists began speculating about a "generational rebellion" within the bureaucracy. Meanwhile the influencer Kunal Bhalla publicly praises your daughter as "the new Vo of youth dissent " but refuses to take accountability for his platform's role in shaping her worldview. Social media is split some defend her right to free thought while others accuse such influencers of normalising disrespect for institutions and romanticizing shallow intellectualism. Your colleagues advice silence but your daughter now wants to drop out of school and intern with a podcast network. (a) What are the key ethical issues involved in the way "free thinking" is promoted by influencers on social media especially for impressionable youth? (b) What should be the role of public figures in responding to the misuse or distortion of influential platforms in the name of free expression? (c) Suggest a policy framework or guidelines for responsible influencer content aimed at youth without curbing intellectual freedom. (20 marks 250 words)

Topper: Sanjeev Gupta · AIR 495 · 2025 · Page 44