The Algorithmic Voter: Navigating Misinformation and Political Narratives in Digital India

Abstract

As a student researcher observing the socio-political landscape of contemporary India, I am witnessing a phenomenon that scholars have termed the “technological democratization” of the country. Since the “Jio Revolution” of 2016, data costs in India have plummeted, bringing millions of young Indians online. For my generation the demographic cohort often referred to as the “Youth Bulge” (where over 50% of the population is under 25) the smartphone has become the primary site of citizenship. However, I argue that this rapid digitization has outpaced our educational preparation. We have placed powerful supercomputers in the hands of young voters without equipping them with the critical faculties to navigate an algorithmically polarized world. My research begins with the premise that in India, the “Digital Public Sphere” has effectively replaced traditional ground-level mobilization. The Adda (traditional hangout) has moved to WhatsApp, and the pamphlet has been replaced by the Instagram Reel.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788199963313.2026.288-294