If both of you have already read the comments by other members in this thread, then you should have got reply to your questions before asking.
Anyways Military, being a part of this society, is impacted in the same way as the society from the manipulative role of social media. Social media has been ‘weaponized’ as a tool of hybrid warfare by the enemy states and enemy also employ modern techniques and divisive tactics using social media in modern times. Militaries and security setups need to do a lot to avert these threats. In the best interest of the country, it is important to use the social media in a positive way and neutralize the manipulative or negative impact of social media.
Social media can also have negative effects on individuals employed in security agencies, military and other sensitive organization which include:
1. Operational Security Risks. Individuals (military/intelligence) may inadvertently reveal sensitive information about their location, movements, and activities on social media, which can be used by the adversaries to plan attacks or ambushes.
2. Cybersecurity Risks. Selected persons may be targeted with malware or other cyber attacks through social media, which can compromise the security of military networks and systems, especially when its known that an operation is in progress and data exchange is occurring continuously in certain sectors.
3. Distraction from Mission. Individuals may become distracted from their mission by spending too much time on social media, which can reduce their effectiveness and increase the risk of injury or death. Its affects an individual (officer/soldier) psychologically. Most covert missions succeed based on their secrecy in many domains (units allotted/weapons in that theater of war/ high ranking officials in area)
4. Psychological Risks. Individuals may be exposed to traumatic images and videos on social media, which can contribute to the development of conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Its interlinked with above factor but has different consequences on individual level.
5. Spread of Misinformation. Military persons may be exposed to misinformation on social media, which can lead to confusion and mistrust, and negatively affect their decision making. This is very common nowadays.
6. Risk to Privacy. Soldiers may share personal information on social media, which can put them at the risk of being targeted by adversaries or stalkers.
7. Temptation to Share Sensitive Information. Soldiers may be tempted to share sensitive information on social media, which can put their unit and mission at risk. PK resists this temptation
The above are just to name a few.
Following are the negative effects of news in media and social media when the news from Military comes out regarding its operations, causalities, terrorists killed, targets achieved, progress made etc :
1. Propaganda and Disinformation. Social media is used to spread disinformation, misinformation, half-truths and extremist ideologies by various actors such as individuals, extremist groups, and insurgent organizations, etc. These elements use social media to disseminate propaganda and false information to manipulate public opinion and shape the discourse around sensitive national issues. This can undermine public trust in institutions and create divisions within communities.
Fake news is the biggest challenge the modern digital society is facing.
2. Shaping Public Opinion. Social media is a very effective tool to
shape public opinion which could be used positively to develop consensus on national issues but unfortunately, this is mostly being used by malicious elements to shape public opinion against government and other national institutions, including military. Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and their use in "deep fake" has made it nearly impossible to detect fake videos and audios by common available means.
We have seen this negative image building campaigns during Military's operations around the western border areas and even polio vaccination drives.
3. Mobilization and Recruitment. Social media has also been used to mobilize and recruit individuals for various causes, including extremist groups and insurgent organizations. Social media platforms provide an easy and effective way for these groups to reach a large audience and to identify and target potential recruits.
4. Citizen Journalism. Social media has also provided an avenue for citizen journalists and activists. In some cases, this can be helpful to bring quick information and contribute towards a more informed citizenry, but authenticity and reliability of such news is always an issue.
On PDF, its the birth of a thread based on only 1 tweet and 20 tweets means 20 more threads.
5. Polarization. Social media has increased polarization in the society by allowing like-minded individuals to find and reinforce each other's views, creating filter bubbles and echo chambers that further reinforce the existing beliefs. This can lead to increased hostility and reduced tolerance in the society.
The reason why members leave PDF , e.g. Irfan Baloch as recent example since the division becomes too high to handle and two formidable sides spring up.