Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi: Be a Digital Citizen, Not a Netizen; Media Literacy Essential in the Age of AI

Digital Citizenship Over Netizenry

New Delhi | September 7, 2026

Prof. Sanjay Dwivedi, former Director General of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), has called upon the youth to first become 'citizens' before becoming 'netizens'. He stressed that digital mediums are useful tools for humans but should not be allowed to become a substitute for life.

He advised that young people should use technology for knowledge creation, communication, education, employment, and expanding opportunities, rather than becoming its slaves. Addressing the first lecture series organized online by 'Sahityayan', an organization formed for the promotion of literature, art, and culture, Prof. Dwivedi stated that in the face of increasing dependence on digital mediums, preserving original thought, human sensitivity, and social responsibility is today's greatest necessity.

Vernacular, Voice, and Video: A New Era

During the program, themed 'Digital Media and Youth Outlook', he remarked that this is the era of 'vernacular, voice, and video', and the digital revolution has created unprecedented opportunities for Indian languages.

Prof. Dwivedi highlighted that digital mediums have eliminated many barriers of language and script. Consequently, the literature, cinema, theatre, art, and cultural knowledge of Indian languages are now easily accessible on the global stage.

He emphasized that not every viral piece of information is true, and it is extremely important to verify the source, context, veracity, and reliability of any message, news, or video before sharing it.

The Need for Responsible Digital Citizenship

Stressing the need for youth to become responsible digital citizens rather than mere digital consumers, Prof. Dwivedi underscored the importance of 'media literacy'. He offered a concise yet impactful slogan: “Do not type bad, do not like bad, and do not share bad.”

He warned that the tendency to disseminate content without verification can be harmful to both individuals and society. He also stated that freedom of expression on social media comes with deep responsibility. Expressing dissent is a right, but insulting someone, spreading hate, harassing, and disseminating misleading information are not appropriate digital behaviors. He identified privacy as an important civic value in the digital world.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its Challenges

Discussing the possibilities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Prof. Dwivedi noted that AI has opened new avenues in fields like education, translation, language refinement, content creation, voice recognition, advertising, and communication.

However, this also presents serious challenges to human originality, critical thinking, and creative labor. He expressed concern that excessive reliance on machines could weaken human cognitive abilities. Mentioning the dangers of deepfakes and artificially generated content, he stated that in the age of AI, information verification has become more crucial than ever. A person's voice, picture, or video can be artificially altered to mislead society.

Therefore, he suggested that media and information literacy should be made a compulsory part of the curriculum from primary to higher education.

Human Sensitivity: The Basis of Creativity

Describing human sensitivity as the fundamental basis of creativity, Prof. Dwivedi quoted a couplet by the renowned poet Akbar Allahabadi: “Give pain a place in the heart, Akbar, poetry does not come from knowledge alone.”

He clarified that even with superior technology, language, and tools available, a creation cannot be impactful unless it deeply expresses human suffering, struggles, and sensibilities. He also highlighted that multilingualism is not India's weakness but its cultural strength and pride.

'Sahityayan's' Objective and Future Plans

At the beginning of the program, Prof. Harish Arora, Professor at PGDAV College (Evening), Delhi University, and Patron and Guide of 'Sahityayan', delivered the welcome address. He explained that 'Sahityayan's' objective is not limited to literature or language alone but that the institution will establish dialogue between experts from various fields and society, promoting language, literature, art, and culture in a coordinated manner.

He also informed that the institution will organize online programs as well as in-person events in the future. The program was moderated by Aviral Abhilash Mishra, a researcher at Delhi University. The organizing committee members, including Dr. Prabhakar Kumar, Dinesh Kaushik, Sakshi, Hansraj, Sahdev Singh, Nitesh Kumar Pandey, Harish Chaudhary, Rajendra Pal, Reshmi Kumari, Praveen Tripathi, Vishwani Mishra, Shubham Shastri, and Lav Kumar Pandey, played a significant role.