Media Education Act to Strengthen India's Digital Ecosystem

A doctoral study at Acharya Nagarjuna University recommends sweeping reforms to strengthen India's digital media landscape through education, innovation, and policy-driven initiatives. The researcher, Ravi Kumar Boppana, carried out the research titled "Social Media Management Strategies – Its Impact on Traditional Media: An Analysis," guided by Prof. R. Sivarama Prasad. ANU has awarded Boppana a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) for this research.

The research warns that unless India responds with systemic reforms, the gap between verified journalism and viral content can further increase.It has, inter alia, suggested a comprehensive Media Education Act to integrate media and digital literacy across schools, colleges, and public learning platforms. The ultimate aim is to equip students, educators, and citizens with the ability to verify information, detect manipulated content, and be responsible media consumers in this highly polarized digital space.

Boppana's research proposes a reform model to strengthen the industry on seven counts: establishing Regional Digital Empowerment Hubs, Media Innovation Labs for student-industry collaboration, misinformation monitoring systems, and performance-based incentives to encourage ethical and fact-driven journalism. The study also advocates for collaborative regulatory frameworks between print, broadcast, and digital media for transparency and accountability.

It also calls for nationwide campaigns for the promotion of responsible digital behavior, reduction of misinformation, and advancing cyber ethics. It further stresses the need to support traditional media with instruments for digital transition so that they can stay financially viable and socially relevant.

The study says, "With India emerging as one of the largest digital media consumers in the world, the next decade has to focus on media literacy, innovation, and ethical content ecosystems" to safeguard democracy and public trust.