New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi’s followers flooded his timeline with expressions of relief Tuesday as he clarified a puzzling post he’d made a day before — he’s not quitting social media, just doing his bit to mark International Women’s Day.
The social-media-savvy leader had tweeted Monday night that he was “thinking of” giving up his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube accounts this Sunday. The same message was posted across all his social media accounts except YouTube.
This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube. Will keep you all posted.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 2, 2020
However, he tweeted Tuesday afternoon that Sunday being 8 March, when the world observes International Women’s Day, he would hand over his social media accounts to “women whose life & work inspire us”.
This Women's Day, I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life & work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions.
Are you such a woman or do you know such inspiring women? Share such stories using #SheInspiresUs. pic.twitter.com/CnuvmFAKEu
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2020
Accompanying the post was an invitation for nominations via a social media campaign, with participants expected to use the hashtag #SheInspiresUs.
For many of Modi’s 5.3 crore followers, the announcement came as a big relief because Monday’s post was largely perceived as his farewell to social media, a medium he has been known to champion.
Whole twitter since yesterday : He is leaving social media. It'll be strong message to Twitter FB for their bias. Twitter will crash. I too will leave. No, don't leave, leave hate. Detox. Mat jao. #NoSir.. Blah blah..
Modiji today : pic.twitter.com/2G9tj9pXco
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) March 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/Saffron2024/status/1234747130151145472?s=20
Immediately after the initial post, Modi’s fans inundated his timeline with requests to change his mind. Within hours, #NoModiNoTwitter was the number 1 trend on Twitter, with over 16,000 tweets.
Honourable PM @narendramodi Ji. You have enlightened millions of people with your positivity and your decision to quit SM has also inspired many of us to do the same.#NarendraModi #NoModiNoTwitter #NoSir @vanitajain21 @ParasKGhelani @yashshiningstar @utsavpansari @PansariNeha pic.twitter.com/bchcKH2gkb
— Ramesh (@Ramesh_BJP) March 3, 2020
Pradhan Sevak #NarendraModi jee,
I was with you.
I am with you.
I will with you always..
Dear @narendramodi Jee,#IWillAlsoLeaveTwitter #NoModiNoTwitterpic.twitter.com/vzG70ItATL
— φìվմʂհ Joshi ?? (@PIYUSh4_67) March 3, 2020
@narendramodi Sir, will follow you wherever you go. Any new SN platform coming soon..?#NoModiNoTwitter #IWillAlsoLeaveTwitter
— राष्ट्रनीति (@ashishoutlook) March 3, 2020
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Calls for a ‘swadeshi platform’
PM Modi is one of the most followed world leaders across social media. On Twitter, the Prime Minister’s account @narendramodi has 5.3 crore followers, making it one of the top 20 accounts in the world. The most-followed account on Twitter is that of former US President Barack Obama, who has 11.3 crore followers.
On Facebook, PM Modi’s verified page @narendramodi has over 4.5 crore followers. His message about giving up social media received 65,000 comments on Facebook.
Facebook user Ayan Chakraborty wrote, “No Sir, this is the only one way that we can directly contact with our respected PM…”. Fellow Facebook user Kiran K.S. had a suggestion for the PM: “Dear Narendra Modi – You have always been a trend setter. If you are leaving the Western social media platforms, then the next step must be a Swadeshi platform.”
On YouTube, the PM has a verified channel that goes by his full name, Narendra Modi. The channel has 45.2 lakh subscribers and its content has been viewed over 500 million times. YouTube was one portal where the PM didn’t appear to have posted his message about “giving up” social media.
On Instagram, where he has 3.5 crore followers, PM Modi invoked the viral Insta poetry format to announce his Sunday “departure”. The message was presented in a font similar to that of a typewriter, set against a background of faded paper blotched with stains. The message was broken into six lines, a format associated with Insta poetry, a trend that sees users post short, powerful verses that court much popularity among members of the social media generation.
Also Read: Modi is world’s favourite leader on Instagram, thanks to Davos shot & pix with Virushka