By Our Reporter
‘Oh! Meghalaya’ news portal in the city on Saturday. (ST)
SHILLONG: Meghalaya Information Technology Society (MITS) member secretary DP Wahlang has stressed on the need to have regulations on the use of on-line media which is emerging as the popular media of the present generation.
“By having these regulations, there will be some kind of check and balances to ensure the responsible use of online media,” Wahlang said while speaking during the panel discussion on the theme – “Emergence of Online Media: Its impact on Society and Governance” as part of the first anniversary celebration of an online news network – the www.ohmeghalaya.com here on Saturday.
According to him, regulations can come in different forms which include the government, internet service providers and others as preventive measures.
He however pointed out that there would be some kind of negative impact if the online media functions without regulations.
MITS member secretary also referred to last year’s incident where mass exodus of North East people from South India occured just because of a simple SMS doing the spreading work.
“If there are no regulations, it is going to be very difficult to control rumours from spreading and stop their negative impact,” he added.
Wahlang however believed that online media would have a huge impact on the society governance and overall developmental aspects going on the everyday activities.”
Earlier, inaugurating the programme, State Urban Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said that virtual media has both the positive as well as the negative side.”
Pointing out that virtual network can really be of pressurizing especially for the young generation of today, She said, “I am sure that a panel discussion of this nature can lend valuable learning experiences and of course valuable suggestions to the government in particular on how to go about tackling such problems that is emerging from virtual network.”
Admitting that these kinds of virtual network do have an important roles in term of communication, she however said, “On the other hand, they also come with negative impact if not carefully check,” adding “The information that will emerge from the discussion is hope to help in containing such problem on time to serve the benefits of allowing individuals to be connected with each other.”
Mentionably, former politician RG Lyngdoh who is the vice chancellor of the Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) was the moderator of the panel discussion.
Earlier the news, information and tourism website’s editor Tilak Rai explained as to how the www.ohmeghalaya.com website was born as a convergence of professional journalists and IT skills of educated but unemployed youths.
The other panel members included the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of World Development Forum Harsh Shrivastava, Samudra G Kashyap, the special correspondent of Indian Express, Pradyot B Manikya, Editor – in – Chief of The North-East Today (TNT).