Paragraph:
Not every voice on the internet commands the same kind of audience.
When anonymous private entities with high capital can pay for more space for their opinions, they are effectively buying a louder voice. If political discourse in the digital sphere is a matter of outshining one’s opponent till the election is won, then the quality of politics suffers. The focus of social media is restricted to the promotion of content that generates more user engagement, regardless of how inflammatory the content may be.
Q1. Which one of the following statements best reflects the central idea of the above passage?
a) Constructed as a marketplace of views, social media ensures instant access to information.
b) Social media are not ideal or moral institutions but the products built by companies to make profits.
c) Social media have been created to strengthen democracies.
d) In today’s world, social media are inevitable for well-informed social life.
Correct answer: b) Social media are not ideal or moral institutions but the products built by companies to make profits.
Q2. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Internet is not inclusive enough.
2. Internet can adversely affect the quality of politics in a country.
Which of the assumptions given above is/are valid?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer: c) Both 1 and 2
Question from UPSC Prelims 2024 CSAT
Explanation :
Q1. Central Idea Analysis:
– The paragraph discusses how:
1. Not all voices have equal reach on the internet
2. Those with money can amplify their voices
3. Political discourse is affected by this imbalance
4. Social media prioritizes engagement over content quality
5. Content can be inflammatory but still gets promoted
Looking at the options:
– The paragraph doesn’t celebrate social media’s information access (a)
– It’s not about social media being inevitable (d)
– It doesn’t claim social media strengthens democracy (c)
– Option (b) aligns with the passage’s criticism of how social media operates as a profit-driven system rather than a democratic forum
The correct answer b) is indeed the best match as it captures the passage’s critique of social media as commercial entities rather than democratic institutions.
Q2. Assumptions Analysis:
Let’s examine each assumption:
1. “Internet is not inclusive enough”
– The passage states “Not every voice commands the same audience” and mentions how money can buy louder voices
– This implies inequitable access and influence, supporting this assumption
2. “Internet can adversely affect the quality of politics”
– The passage explicitly states “the quality of politics suffers”
– It mentions how political discourse becomes about “outshining opponents” and promotes inflammatory content
Both assumptions are clearly supported by the passage, making c) “Both 1 and 2” the correct answer.