New Delhi: IT minister acknowledges widespread concerns about adverse impact of social media on children Ashwini Vashno It has become a major issue around the world and it is time for all stakeholders to come together and agree on how to tackle the challenge, he said on Thursday.Speaking at the Times Now Summit, Vaishnaw, who holds both I&B and railway portfolios, said this is a concern across the world, including India. He pointed to a U.S. verdict that showed the addictive algorithms used by these platforms were harming children.Asked about the consequences of the conflict in West Asia, he said it would have a major global impact but insisted that India’s economic situation was better than that of several other countries.He said India’s balance sheet was “healthy” even compared with some rich countries, with its debt-to-GDP ratio at 57%. “Our growth story will continue to be 6-8% real growth over the next five years… We are not starting a war. We are facing collateral damage,” he added.Slamming the opposition parties, especially Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, for their attacks on the government, he said India had never seen such a “low level” opposition. He blamed their dissatisfaction on their repeated electoral defeats and a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Referring to the topless protest by Youth Assembly members at the AI Summit, he said, “Such a low level of opposition is something we have not seen at any time in our history. Our presentation suffered because of it.”
