SOCIAL MEDIA A STUDY OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY WARS /CONFLICTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

A STUDY OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY WARS /CONFLICTS

SOCIAL MEDIA

A STUDY OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND ITS IMPACT ON CONTEMPORARY WARS /CONFLICTS

ISBN-9789385991851
Rs/-699

Sun Tzu, the Chinese military strategist, cautions that one must know ourselves, our enemy and our battlespace. Social Media delivers on all three. The Internet has become a new battlefield in ways that blur the line between war and peace.

Social media today is an quintessential part of our life. It is rapidly growing in popularity and proliferating at an alarming pace. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and WhatsApp have grown into very powerful tools with tremendous impact on daily life and routine. These platforms have the power to influence minds and shape perceptions. Governments and armies around the world are exploring possibilities of adopting it as a strategic weapon. Social media platforms are finding use as tools of Information Operations, Perception Management, Psychological Operations, and Cyber Warfare. It acts as a potent conduit for open source intelligence. Social Media is also emerging as an enabler in "Asymmetric warfare" through the exploitation of people's aspirations, differential development, religious beliefs, and cultural leanings. It has very high penetration levels and a large number of people are connected through sharing experiences, pictures, documents, and media.

Social media is deeply influencing the method of war fighting. It can influence the hearts and minds of a very large audience and may be termed as a weapon of mass instruction and disruption that can have tangible benefits for military planners. The cyber domain threatens regional and national security in ways that are uncommon in the other traditional domains of land, sea, air, and space. Within the traditional domains, these types of actions are relatively recognizable and easier to classify as acts of war, but in cyberspace the underlying intent and attribution of a cyber attack are difficult to discern. Successful social media operations may act as a powerful force multiplier for both conventional and cyber capabilities.

This book is an attempt to highlight the many facets of social media and its impact on contemporary wars/conflicts.

Lt Gen SRR Aiyengar, was commissioned in the Corps of Signals, Indian Army on 11 June 1961.Graduated from, National Defence Academy, Khadakvasala and later Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, The officer had an illustrious career in the Indian Army spanning nearly four decades. He has rich experience in serving in almost all types of Signal units to include Infantry, Mountain and Mechanized formations. Graduate of the prestigious 'Defence Services Staff College(DSSC)'. He obtained his MSC in Defence Studies from University of Madras. He commanded a Mtn Div Sig Regt in the North East in active CI ops environment. His staff assignments outside his parent Corps includes, BM of an Mtn Bde in Ladakh, Col GS of an Inf Div in J&K and ADG CAB(Complaints Advisory Board) at the Army HQs.

His service was commended and was awarded VSM in Jan 1989 in recognition of distinguished services in the execution of Electronic Warfare(EW) and Signal Intelligence(SI) plans during OP PAWAN. His professional qualifications also include attending the 'Senior Defence Management Course' at the College of Defence Management at Secunderabad. He was later elected as a 'Fellow' of All India Management Association.  Was nominated to attend the prestigious 'National Defence College Course' in 1990 and obtained his M Phil in 'Defence and Strategic Studies' from University of Madras. He was decorated with AVSM in Jan 1993 and in recognition of distinguished service of the highest order, during his long and illustrious career, by the President with an award of PVSM in Jan 1999. The General Officer has the unique distinction of commanding three premier training institutions of the Armed Forces namely, MCTE, DSSC and NDC.

A very keen student of Military Technology, National Security Affairs and International and Strategic Relations, the General Officer has also represented the country in Asian Regional Forum (ARF) Heads of Defence Universities/Colleges and Military Institutions (HDUCIM), interacting with as many as 20 Strategic Institutions across the globe.  The General officer has authored many papers and conceived strategic projects (EW) and contributes regularly to various military journals and publications. His book on 'Military Ethics' has been commended by many. Retired from active service in Apr 2001.