The Indian Army has introduced a new policy for social media use by its personnel.
Soldiers and officers can now use Instagram only to view and monitor content.
They are not allowed to post, like, or comment on any posts. Other digital rules already in place for the army will continue to apply.
The main goal is to allow soldiers to stay informed and identify fake or misleading content without engaging publicly on social media.
Reporting Fake Content
Under this policy, soldiers can report suspicious or misleading posts to their superiors.
This strengthens the army’s efforts against information warfare and disinformation.
The army has previously issued guidelines for platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram, mainly due to security concerns.
Why the Restrictions?
Strict social media rules were introduced after cases where soldiers were trapped by foreign agencies and accidentally leaked sensitive information.
Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi recently highlighted the challenge during the Chanakya Defence Dialogue.
He explained that young cadets often try to hide phones when joining the NDA and it takes three to six months to convince them about life without constant phone use.
He added that smartphones are necessary for daily life, like paying school fees, checking on parents, or communicating with family.
Regarding social media, he clarified:
Reacting = Immediate responses
Responding = Thoughtful replies
The army wants soldiers to view content only, not react hastily to posts.
Previous Restrictions
The army has long maintained strict rules:
In 2017, guidelines were issued to protect sensitive information.
Until 2019, soldiers were barred from joining social media groups.
In 2020, personnel were instructed to delete 89 mobile apps, including Facebook and Instagram.
Limited use of some platforms like Facebook, YouTube, X, LinkedIn, Quora, Telegram, and WhatsApp is still allowed, but under strict monitoring.
The new policy balances security with the need for digital awareness, allowing soldiers to stay informed while protecting sensitive information.
