Bihar Cabinet Approves Social Media and Online Media Rules 2024 to Enhance Policy Outreach and Regulate Content Standards
New Manual Facilitates Advertising on Global Platforms, Defines Eligibility Based on User Metrics, and Enforces De-Listing of Non-Compliant Media
In a landmark step in the technological development of the state, the Cabinet led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved the Social Media and Other Online Media Rules for the state. Bihar Social Media and Other Online Media Rules, 2024 has been made by the Department of Information and Public Relations to reach the policies and public welfare programs of the state government to the people through various types of social media developing with technological development. It has been approved by the State Cabinet on November 14, 2024.
With the implementation of this manual, it will be easy to publish advertisements on international platforms like Google, Microsoft Edge etc. and major social media such as Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter) and Instagram including websites / news portals / web media / news mobile apps, podcasts etc. can be listed under the department and through these, information about the public welfare programs and schemes of the government can be reached to the people effectively and quickly.
With the implementation of this manual, it will be easy to publish advertisements on international platforms like Google, Microsoft Edge etc. and major social media such as Facebook, YouTube, X (Twitter), Instagram including. Websites/News Portals/Web Media/News Mobile Apps, Podcasts etc. can be listed under the department and through these, information about the public welfare programmes and schemes of the government can be conveyed to the people effectively and promptly.
Under this manual, eligibility will be determined on the basis of the minimum average unique users per month for web media and subscribers/followers for social media. The authenticity of the unique user data will be checked on the basis of internationally accepted and reliable third-party tools (Google Analytics and Comscore in case of web media and analytics of the concerned platform in case of social media.
If any media listed under this manual broadcasts anti-national, indecent, anti-social or communally inciting content or against the norms of government messages or the guidelines of the Press Council of India, then there is also a provision for de-listing or blacklisting of such media.