Research shows social media worsens plight of marginalized communities in India

Social media platforms, often praised for giving everyone a voice, can reinforce inequality and deepen the exclusion of marginalized communities, new research from the University of Bath School of Management shows. The study focused on Dalits in India, formerly referred to as "untouchables" and now legally known as Scheduled Castes in India. Dalits, who account for just over 200 million of India's 1.47 billion people, are a marginalized group outside the traditional Hindu caste system and are acknowledged to face social and economic oppression. Historically, Dalits were confined to menial tasks that were viewed as polluting, such as animal slaughter and leatherworking.