Social media influencers create negative impact with online betting, game app promotions

Influencers gain popularity by increasing their followers on social media with interviews and funny videos. But some of them, eager to make money, promote betting apps and websites. 

Hyderabad: Some influencers on YouTube and Instagram are misleading people by promoting online betting apps through their social media accounts. With many youngsters ending their lives after losing money to online betting and games in recent time, concerns are being raised on such unhealthy practice.

Recently, a YouTuber who posted videos promoting a betting app was arrested by the Andhra Pradesh police. The Telangana government has already banned online betting and gaming. Although this is the only incident that has recently come to light, several hundreds of people continue promoting betting and fake job offers and investment advertisements.

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Influencers are gaining popularity by increasing their followers on social media with interviews and funny videos. So far, it was good, but some people who are eager to make money are promoting betting apps and websites.

In some instances, they post clips of newly released movies and web series containing adult content as bait. To watch the entire video, the followers are instructed to click on the link in the bio. If you click on it, you will be directed to a Telegram group. Sometimes malware and data-collecting apps created by cybercriminals are downloaded on phones.

Recently, the Telangana Cyber Security Bureau had busted a job fraud racket where job aspirants who fell trap to such false job propaganda ended up getting trapped by cybercrime crooks in Cambodia.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has issued a warning to endorsers and social media influencers against the promotion of offshore online betting and gambling platforms.

The advisory explicitly instructs social media influencers and celebrities to avoid promoting or advertising these offshore platforms, including surrogate advertisements.

The advisory leverages Section 79 of the IT Act, 2000, emphasizing the legal obligation of intermediaries to remove or disable access to unlawful content promptly.

Meanwhile, the state government has already banned online betting and gaming. Anyone playing or encouraging online games can be booked. It is prohibited to promote betting online and on social media platforms.

Failure to adhere to these guidelines may trigger proceedings under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. This could include the removal or disabling of social media posts or accounts and further penal action under applicable statutes.

The police are found to be taking action against those responsible only when there is controversy or the video becomes viral on social media.

Senior IPS officer and TGSRTC Managing Director VC Sajjanar raised concerns about the harmful impact of online betting apps, stating that they were ruining many lives.

“Social media influencers are requested to refrain from promoting these platforms for personal gain. Innocent people are falling victim to the online betting epidemic due to videos shared by influencers claiming that users can become millionaires overnight. These individuals are destroying their bright futures,” he said.

Recent suicide cases:

* S.M.Aravind (23), a degree student of a private degree college from Madhapur ended his life after losing huge money to online games and betting.

* T Lingam (25), from Ibrahimpatnam got addicted to online betting and ended his life.