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A 19 year old teen in Bangalore was arrested for uploading secretly filmed, objectionable videos of women to instagram. This is a concerning case that has raised serious discussions of social media impact, privacy issues, and seeking popularity online.  

What Actually Happened?

The accused, Dilavar Hussain MD, was an Instagram user and ran a page called Dilbar Jaani-67.  He recorded women without their permission in open places such as MG Road, Brigade Road, Church Street, Koramangala and Indiranagar. The uploaded videos were posted with the hashtag, ‘Bangalore Night Life', which was reportedly meant to grab the attention and the curiosity of the users of social media.

Hussain, a food delivery agent born in Manipur, has posted over 14 of such videos within three months. The information came to the notice of the police through routine surveillance and within record time a complaint was booked against the pernicious trend under the Information Technology Act, Section 67 that punishes the publication or transmission of obscene material through computer resources.

Social media and the cult of followers

The era of the digital age experienced a generation of content creators overstepping ethical lines to gain Internet notoriety:

1. Popularity and Peer pressure: Attaining followers has now become a show of status, which encourages people to go to very extreme measures in the name of sharing something trending.
2. Algorithm Rewards: The algorithms of any social media are inclined to reward the sensational or controversial post with more access and visibility, in case the post is inappropriate.
3. Anonymity and Easy Access: The convenience of anyone to record and share the contents of their mobile devices combined with the perception of anonymity encourages individuals to violate privacy regulations.
4. Attention Economy: Likes, share, and follow are now considered a sort of digital money, which in most cases can be above legal or moral issues.

Real-World Consequences

Legal action is swift, as seen in this case, with the police acting on their own without waiting for a victim's complaint. Arrests and FIRs disrupt the lives of the accused but also creates a powerful deterrent signal to potential criminals. Victims may feel distress and lose trust in public spaces.

Increasing trend: Street Life Content / Night Life Content

This sharing of videos that shows the city night life also referred to as street life is usually done at the cost of one person and this has caught pace on social sites. Hashtags and tendencies, such as #NightLifeBangalore is meant to feed the curiosity of the digital audiences, yet, there are certain cases when it crosses a line between amusement and invasion.

Bengaluru Police Response 

• The Ashok Nagar Police are keeping vigil on social media and acting against these online crimes.
• During this case, law enforcement officials immediately asked Instagram to delete the offensive profile.
• These are similar arrests that have been conducted in the recent past showing effective law enforcement.

Social Media responsibility is important

The case is a lesson that seeking online fame should never trump the concern of privacy and legality. What happened in Bengaluru is not an isolated event, but it is a turning point when the online community needs to take a hard look at the content that is regarded and promoted. Saving face of the people and the community is still more significant than popular hashtags or a viral status. 

The government of Tamil Nadu formally opened the Chennai Institute of Journalism (CIJ) in an attempt to consolidate media education and train generations of future journalists from the state and the nation as a whole. Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism (PGDJ) classes will begin from the 2025–26 academic year.

The institute, to be established under Section 8(1) of the Companies Act, 2013, will be a non-profit one. It was approved administratively with a budgetary outlay of ₹7.75 crore and its establishment was announced for the first time in April by Information and Publicity Minister MP Saminathan at the state Assembly session.

Emphasizing the government's dedication to media literacy and professional education, Minister Saminathan had announced that the institute would be a center of excellence in training journalists, research, and development, offering quality and affordable education to aspiring media practitioners with varied backgrounds.

Seasoned media professionals will run the institute. N Ravi, Director, Kasturi and Sons Ltd and ex Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, has been named as chairperson of the board of governors. AS Panneerselvan, ex Readers' Editor of The Hindu, will be appointed the Director General.

As much as having a vision to be the benchmark in journalism education, CIJ has to provide a study programme that combines traditional journalism principles with contemporary digital media qualifications.

CIJ's timing is timely, considering journalism education in India is currently under the limelight for requiring a make-over and improved industry-academia connect. The state government initiative is being seen as an attempt at re-fashioning media education with stable leadership and popular support

Everything is about AI in this era; be it writing a birthday wish, a legal report, or the speech of Indian ministers. Using AI for all of this isn’t wrong. Back in the days, calculators were looked down before being allowed in the classes. AI tools are going through the same phase. However, all the visionary and future experts are learning AI tools in ways that will equip them with  the skills they need to flourish in the AI-driven world. Due to this, a new job role has emerged: AI Reporters. There are some early signs one can experience that can signal they are meant to pursue this future-proof career. 

Who is an AI Reporter?

An AI reporter is any reporter who employs the array of conventional storytelling techniques and who is also intellectually conversant with artificial intelligence, describing it and, in some cases, exploiting it to cover the news, to explain data sets, and to convey in a readily understandable manner, complex technological trends. You can write about the effects of AI in everyday life, reveal algorithm discrimination, or even work directly with AI to bring more informative and timely news.

1. You are Naturally Curious about Technology

When there is a new application or some kind of technological trend, do you tend to be one of the first to use it among your friends? Do you like sharing these tools using a discourse that everyone could grasp?

The main indicator is natural interest in the way things operate, especially in the technological field. In AI reporting, you need to question such things as:

1. What impact does such an AI tool have on the lives of the people?
2. What are the drawbacks and benefits of AI in society?
3. Can you simplify complicated technological concepts to tales that all viewers will understand?

In case you are intrinsically interested in the world of technology and enjoy exploring why things work the way they do, you are most of the way there.

2. You Have a Flair of Making Things Simple 

AI reporting does not only mean making a technology more comprehensible; it means to make it accessible.

You may be a good fit to this job in case:

• Classmates and friends consult you in case they are trying to figure out complex concepts.
• Heavy issues such as machine learning, AI chatbots or virtual reality may be reduced to examples in real life.
• You like to eliminate jargon and make your words clear, whether written or spoken.
• AI reporters can be considered as links between the technical environment and ordinary citizens bringing knowledge and power to all.

3. You Believe in Responsible, Honest and Honest Journalism

Speed and ethics have to be balanced among the AI reporters. Why? Due to the fact that good and bad effects of AI can spread throughout society.

Signs you have this trait:

• Verification of facts is what you value and you want to be accurate in each story.
• You know about privacy, media law, algorithm bias, and care about making reports legal, as well as ethical.
• You reflect on the implications of AI on news and you are eager to make your news coverage trustworthy.
• When you identify with these, then you have the ethical orientation necessary to pursue this line of work.

4. You Love Learning and Ability to Adapt New Tools

Do you like the possibility that your career will never get stagnant? The AI is developing rapidly and AI journalists have nothing to stay behind.

The following things are what distinguish future AI reporters:

• Passion toward life long learning. You are okay with studying additional courses, watching explainers, reading techblogs.
• You view change as a possibility and you like to acquire new tools either data analysis software, AI chatbots, or investigative systems.
• You are informed about the latest trends, i.e. AI-generated content or tools against Fake News.
• This is a high-paced area that will keep you raring to go provided you are adventurous enough to be in an uncomfortable zone.

5. You Know the Human Element of Technology

The finest AI reporters do not forget that there are real people behind each algorithm and code.

You have this people-centered perspective:

• You like to talk to all sorts of people, both the makers of technologies and the novice users.
• Your stories beg the question, how can this AI affect the people and societies?
• You would like your journalism to be used as a voice, otherwise not included in the tech revolution.
• To make technological issues accessible, human stories told by AI reporters seem closer to the audience.

Why should the AI generation break-free from the old school doubts? 

Do you feel the burden of criticism by the older generation every time you open an AI tool? There is nothing you are wrong about. Journalism Ai is a real thing, a real career field. The opinion storm is just a mammoth (the elders telling that one can never do any work when they take shortcuts, that AI is making genZ lazy, and pointing out that these tools will take our originality away).

It is time to be realistic even though their opinions are not completely wrong. They were brought up with the era of results being hours of hard work, pages and pages of hand written notes and the success came through a slow-and-steady approach. However, the world today insists on having lightning speed results. Information travels quicker than ever, opportunities are coming and going within a few seconds, and being late will not matter anymore because if not A then B or C is always there to fulfill the needs. 

Can humans have robot-like speed every time, every second? Obviously not! You are not a machine, you are human. It is impossible to work as hard as the AI tools do to accomplish a task in minutes with proper research, fact-checking, and  creative approach. As a journalist in a populous country, you cannot let a news article become stale or left unheard just because you need time to manually draft it. Speed is the new currency when you are competing over internship, grades and even attention online. Speed without genuineness is of no use. This is where the power of AI comes in providing one with the power to validate your facts, to build fact-oriented arguments and produce formidable new ideas at a superhuman speed. 

When some traditionalists are dealing with a new approach like Journalism AI, they will always say, “That’s not how we did it!” Yet the fact is: one cannot get ahead without AI. And you cannot let their opinion rewrite your generation’s requirements because then you will be going backward. You should not allow yourself to be hopeless about your digital potential due to some old rules. Make AI your personal power-up, it does not make you less genuine, but it makes you unstoppable. Play the rules, bust the old-school guilt, and claim your AI advantage because the future is with those who had the guts to have the speed and deliver the facts authentically. 

Why are AI reporters the future of news media?

AI reporters are the new leaders of the journalism field. The current reports might be using the old means but in about 2-5 years the AI will become a necessity. AI reporters are individuals who have decided to keep up with the AI-driven world. They are not robots working on laptops, instead they are narrators and have knowledge on how to make use of all the tools they have. Whenever there is big news, AI assists them to monitor the news on a real time basis, find out some of the concealed facts and discover new perspectives that were previously unidentified by others. But the heartbeat of their reporting? That’s still their own questions, instincts, and caring for the reader.

Ethical Journalism Matters for AI Reporters

AI simplifies and accelerates the process of digging through piles of data in order to decipher some pattern, verify information in countless websites, or travel to a time-sensitive story where the clock is ticking. AI does not exist to take all the attention or let the stories be bland. Rather, it assists the AI reporters:

• Dig deep to find stories that no one is telling in the conundrum of information that whirls every day.
• Speak truth more quickly to avoid missing out vital information.
• Attain access to a greater number of people with the help of lightning-fast updates, but never forget to check facts to remain factual and credible.

Perhaps, one is concerned that by introducing these new tools, news is less human. But the opposite is true. The thing is that AI provides modern reporters with freedom as to what truly matters: to ask a smart question, listen to each other face-to-face, and write a story that evokes emotions, sincerity, and even hope. Reporters are not out of their creative fire; they are only ensuring the world is exposed to this, just when it happens.

Frequently as questions

• Can anyone become an AI reporter?
  Yes, with curiosity about tech, communication skills, and a desire to learn, you can begin your journey.
• What skills do I need to be an AI reporter?
  Strong research, writing, digital literacy, a basic understanding of AI concepts, and ethics in journalism.
• Is there a future for AI reporters?
  Yes, the AI reporter job role is a new job coming into existence. The salary could be lucrative too. 

So, dream of a journalism AI career where you chase big stories, reach millions, and stay proud that people read and listen to you because your words can lead him/her somewhere and change his/her life. Reporting in the future is not only a matter of speed but an era to be more human than ever before with all the right tools, heart, and hustle. Don’t let the old school thinking hold you back. Identify the signs that indicate your potential as an AI reporter and pursuing Journalism with a future-centric approach.

Following the arrest of an assistant professor for sexually exploiting a female student, Gangadhar Meher University has released a notice asking students not to spread false information or identify people on social media or group platforms.

In a formal advisory released on Friday evening, the university requested that the students refrain from guessing or posting unwarranted information about the case. "As the case has been reported directly to the police, we do not have names of people except the prime accused. Guessing about any person, speculating and posting unverified stuff could damage people as well as the institution," the notice said.

The students were urged to concentrate on studies and the university's developmental programs, avoiding gossips and internet speculations.

The latest advisory by the university seems to be an attempt to contain misinformation as administrative and legal processes run their course. This is a day after the university's internal complaints committee held a special meeting to debate campus security in light of the arrest.

The meeting resulted in a sequence of institutional actions such as advisories to faculty members regarding professional behavior, hostel awareness campaigns, dissemination of information leaflets and periodic monitoring of ICC activities. The university also published contact numbers of ICC members to facilitate greater accessibility to students who are in need.

Conversely, in the meanwhile while investigation of the accused assistant professor continues, there is a growing urge to scrutinize his background and validity of his appointment in the university. After the accused teacher joined GMU in 2020, one Sambhu Sankar Deep of Balangir had opposed his recruitment in the high court. Deep accused that despite his PhD and the accused being only NET-qualified, the latter had been appointed assistant professor - implying an administrative irregularity.

The arrest of the assistant professor has also led to a political controversy on the campus, with the ABVP accusing that Suna had connections with the BCJD. The student group produced his previous social media posts containing photographs of BJD leaders and BCJD members as proof.

Suspected Gopikant Suna (32), a junior lecturer in the education department, was arrested on July 17 on the complaint of a 20-year-old second-year BA BEd student who accused the teacher of repeatedly exploiting her on the promise of marriage. Suna has also been suspended pending further proceedings.

Digital health platforms have revolutionized individual and organizational health solutions post-pandemic at breakneck velocities. What was clunky and anonymous is now driving the pack of daily wellness habits. From immune system boosters and home fitness to enabling preventive care and habit formation, platforms are leading an unsung revolution.

With individuals more receptive to long-term wellness and less so for Band-Aid fixes, digital-first solutions are having deeper, more sustained impacts. Here's how that transformation is remaking employee wellbeing and individual health for industries.

MORE THAN JUST FITNESS

There were digital well-being platforms in existence prior to COVID-19 but nothing which had gained mass credibility and consumer acceptance. The pandemic provided a tipping point, says Habuild founder Saurabh Bothra.

It totally transformed the culture to online learning and health coaching, especially in a country like India where the face-to-face look was the traditional way.

Post-pandemic transformation occurred certainly: individuals began to focus on immunity, preventive wellness, and building long-term habits.

POWER OF HABITS AND COMMUNITY

Acquisition of habits is more successful with much social support thereafter, Bothra said. "The quickest way to build a habit is to hang out with people whom you wish to be," he added in addition. To have the exact same people around you both in the virtual and the real space, then automatically there is a change of behavior.".

He also described how the websites help the exercise program to facilitate making it more likely by lessening the 'response time', or the amount of effort or the number of steps to undertake before exercising. In actuality in the gym, the turning over, communiting, or other logistical limitations will make procrastination more likely.

With web sites, the habit is initiated by clicking and habitual consistency with the passage of time is convenient and easy. Community sites are attractive because good habits build day by day in a community environment.

CORPORATES SEE REAL IMPACT

Large companies are increasingly looking for internet wellbeing platforms to increase employees' workplace productivity and reduce absenteeism. Bothra gave the instance of the Central Bank of India where workers' participation in yoga sessions had increased well-being by a significant percentage.

Bharti Airtel has made India’s digital realm flip upside down by announcing the tie-up with the most popular AI answer engine, Perplexity, and the initiative to provide all of its 360 million users a free one-year subscription of Perplexity Pro on its mobile, broadband, and DTH platforms. This subscription that is usually worth 17,000 rupees a year is being offered freely by Airtel users through the Airtel Thanks app, opening the world of more advanced generative AI research to ordinary Indians in an unprecedented connect level.

Perplexity Pro is not one of those ordinary AI chatbots. Users can use such powerful models as GPT-4.1 and Claude, deep research tools, real-time data references, file analysis, image generation, and Perplexity Labs, which allow turning ideas into a draft, visualization, or code. The site goes beyond reference lists; it provides answers in an ordered, reference-substantiated form in a conversational style. Whether it is a student and they have to summarize articles or it is a professional and they have to make reports about clients, the tool will result in huge productivity and a smarter process.

Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, declared the collaboration as a game-changer pointing out that it will enable customers to be in control of the digital world, in a place of confidence and comfort. Moving ahead, Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, stressed that the shift will allow more Indian people (be it a student, a working professional, a household manager) to access professional-grade AI.

Buzz and Meme Reactions on Twitter

The announcement was fast becoming the new trend in Twitter. Lots of users, particularly students, began making light of the fact that it will take a study buddy that does not judge (memes of an Airtel SIM user bidding farewell to spending long hours at the library and experiencing the stresses of a group project were spreading like wild fire). Screenshots of pitch deck and mails typed within seconds were tweeted by professionals with captions ranging from, “My Airtel recharge finally got my work done at the office!”, “Mukesh Ambani to Jio: It's time you switched on your AI now”.

Some tech analysts have noted that, a day later after Google provided college students a free Gemini Pro, Airtel is even greater, and anyone active can take advantage of them, a move that is being branded as the AI arms race in India. Various meme accounts jokingly posted side-by-sides of charged phones as compared to the supposedly older generation Googlers, mocking that Gen Z does homework, and Millennials did hard work.

What are the Differentiators of the Offer? 

1. Broadest Reach: The deal is offered to all users of Airtel, whether student, professional, businessperson or housewife, without any additional costs or other commercial demands. It is a chance in which Airtel rewards loyalty and invites users to a deeper integration into its ecosystem.
2. Increase in Productivity: Early testers have indicated that they can zoom through assignments, research notes, meeting summary, and revision guides swam through with the assistance of Perplexity Pro.
3. Easy Claiming Process: Users simply enter the Airtel Thanks app, check their Perplexity Pro offer in the Rewards section, and they activate their 12-month subscription by a button click.
4. Extra Cost is Zero This is a direct one off saving of 17000 rupees a year per user which is unheard of in this competitive telecom and edtech arena.

Reactions of Netizens  

Feedback across social platforms is overwhelmingly positive. This move,  as working professionals describe, is like “having an extra team member who works 24/7.”. Some of the users, though, noted whether data will be private, and others should not be too naive to trust any AI facts unless you make sure that certain information is critical.

Here are some notable social media posts and reactions on AirtelAi initiative that people are loving and relating with:

"First Jio gave me free data, now Airtel giving me free AI. My phone is officially smarter than me.”

"When AI meets 5G — now even my “what is pani puri?” search loads before I finish craving it! Perplexity + Airtel = Buffering ko bhi ab jobless kar diya! "

“That’s a win for the curious minds! 1-year Pro version of Perplexity free for Airtel users? Love to see Indian telcos backing AI-driven knowledge like this “

"College group chats when Airtel drops Perplexity Pro for free: ‘So now who’s going to cite sources? AI, bro. Always AI.’ "

"Drafted a client email, researched the topic, and summarized 3 articles in 5 minutes. Airtel x Perplexity is the real productivity hack."

"12 months of @perplexity_ai free with Airtel. Is this @AravSrinivas’s Jio moment for AI in India? Give people a taste — and they’ll stop Googling. They’ll start thinking with AI. Massive move for AI adoption."

"After free Apple TV & Amazon Prime subscriptions… Now Airtel is offering free Perplexity Pro?! Absolutely crazy stuff from Airtel lately. Who needs paid AI when your phone plan just leveled up to genius mode? "

In conclusion, Airtel and Perplexity collaboration will take a great step in democratizing advanced AI in India. With Airtel it does not matter whether they are completing their homework, penning legal briefs or even coming up with their marketing strategies, Airtel users now have the smartest assistant in the whole world and that too at no extra cost. There will be new memes, better productivity, and, possibly, some higher expectations of what a mere mobile subscription may provide in the coming year.