Shillong, August 9: Retired IPS officer Bah M. Kharkrang has urged social media influencers and content creators to use their digital reach responsibly to spread awareness about cybercrime, online fraud, cyberbullying and misinformation, warning that the misuse of social media and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is posing growing risks to society.
Speaking at the Influencers Meet 2026 in Shillong, Kharkrang said influencers wield considerable power in shaping public opinion, particularly among young people, and therefore have a responsibility to promote accurate, constructive and socially responsible information.
“Social media is good. We have to know how to use it. If you want to influence, please influence what is right and what is the truth,” he said.
The programme was jointly organised by Datayug Society, U-MATTER, VoxImpact by VoxCrest Media and the Meghalaya AIDS Control Society (MACS), bringing together social media influencers, content creators and public figures to promote responsible use of digital platforms and positive social change.
Drawing from his experience in the police service, Kharkrang highlighted several cases involving online fraud, harassment and blackmail, illustrating the increasingly sophisticated methods used by cybercriminals.
He recalled a case in which a victim was allegedly manipulated over a prolonged period into transferring substantial amounts of money on different pretexts. Police subsequently pursued the case outside the State and traced a person allegedly involved in the fraud.
Kharkrang said such incidents demonstrate that cybercrime can affect anyone, including educated people and professionals who may otherwise consider themselves cautious online.
He also recounted a case involving a young woman studying outside Meghalaya who was allegedly blackmailed by a former partner. The accused allegedly threatened to circulate her private photographs unless she continued making payments.
According to Kharkrang, the woman and her family eventually approached the police. She was reassured and advised not to panic, following which police pursued the matter and arrested the accused.
Citing these incidents, Kharkrang urged influencers to go beyond entertainment and personal content and use their platforms to educate followers about cyber safety.
He said influencers could play a significant role in raising awareness about online scams, cyberbullying, blackmail and other forms of digital exploitation.
“We also need social responsibility to influence people on how to use social media. This is very, very important,” he said.
Kharkrang also cautioned about the growing misuse of AI-generated content, noting that technological advances have made it increasingly easy to manipulate photographs, videos and voices to create convincing but fabricated material.
He warned that such content could falsely portray public figures as saying or doing things that never happened, while unsuspecting users may accept manipulated material as genuine.
He therefore stressed the importance of verifying information before posting or sharing it online, particularly when dealing with sensational or potentially damaging content.
Kharkrang appealed to influencers to recognise the responsibility that comes with their digital reach and to use their platforms to promote truth, responsible online behaviour and greater public awareness of emerging cyber threats.
