YouTube Influencer Slams Indian State’s ‘Bribery’ Social Media Policy

YouTube influencer Dhruv Rathee has fiercely criticized a new social media policy introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government in India. The policy incentivizes influencers to promote government initiatives and policies on their social media accounts, offering payments up to 8 lakh rupees (approximately $10,000) per month. Rathee, with millions of followers across platforms, argues that this incentivizes influencers to endorse government agendas for financial gain, effectively amounting to ‘bribery’. He calls on his followers to reject such offers and publicly shame those who accept them, urging them to prioritize integrity over financial rewards. Rathee’s comments have sparked a debate, with many users and opposition parties echoing his concerns, questioning the ethical implications of the government’s policy.