"We quite often hear only a very dystopian narrative for social media in which, it is increasing political polarization and causing a deep degree of social damage," Apar Gupta, executive director at the Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital liberties organization in India, told CNBC.
"But, social media also has the potential of bringing people together," he said and explained that is why it's important to fight for the right kind of incentives-based system design and algorithmic accountability around social media.
"I think this Covid disaster that is continuing in India is showing the promise of social media to be used as a tool for organizing relief and also demanding greater amounts of political accountability at all levels — from our health-care officials to decision-makers who set budgets," Gupta said.