AN EXTENTIVE EXAMINATION OF THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA TRIALS IN INDIA

AUTHOR-  SHUBHAM* & DR. POOJA BALI**,

* STUDENT OF LLM AT SANT BABA BHAG SINGH UNIVERSITY, JALANDHAR, PUNJAB. EMAIL ID: SHUBHAMMIYA7210@GMAIL.COM

** ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND DEAN, UIL, SANT BABA BHAG SINGH UNIVERSITY, JALANDHAR, PUNJAB. EMAIL ID: POOJABALITHAKUR@GMAIL.COM

BEST CITATION – SHUBHAM* & DR. POOJA BALI, AN EXTENTIVE EXAMINATION OF THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA TRIALS IN INDIA, ILE MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL, 4 (1) OF 2025, PG. 877-8882, APIS – 3920-0007 | ISSN – 2583-7230.

Abstract:-

This study examines the emergence of “social media trials” in India and their significant effects on the media environment, the legal system, and public perceptions of justice. The lines separating public opinion, media coverage, and the legal system are becoming increasingly blurred in India as a result of the extensive use of social media platforms and the rise of virtual trials held online.

The paper covers key cases of social media trials in India, such as the Nirbhaya case and the Aarushi Talwar murder case, assessing their legal and societal repercussions. It explores the moral issues surrounding trial by public opinion and looks at how cyberbullying and online harassment affect the privacy and mental health of witnesses, victims, and the accused. The study also looks at the legal structure that governs social media trials, using the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act, and the Contempt of Courts Act as a guide. In the context of social media trials, it draws attention to how these frameworks govern matters like defamation, hate speech, cyberbullying, and privacy violations.

It also examines the mutually beneficial interaction between social media and conventional media, highlighting the ways in which social media narratives go beyond the virtual world to impact coverage in traditional media. Investigating the societal repercussions of social media experiments, such as polarization and division, the study paper advocates for legislative changes to safeguard privacy, guarantee data security, and achieve a balance between freedom of expression and privacy in the digital era.
Keywords: Social Media Cases, Legal Consequences, Public Perceptions, Cyberbullying,  Privacy Preservation