PM Modi Ends Suspense Over 'Giving Up' Social Media, Says Inspiring Women To 'Take Over' His Accounts On March 8

Prime Minister Narendra Modi finally ended the suspense over 'giving up' social media on Tuesday. A day after the frantic speculations on internet over his surprise announcement, PM Modi tweeted about his Sunday plans. “This Women's Day, I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life & work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions. Are you such a woman or do you know such inspiring women? Share such stories using #SheInspiresUs (sic),” PM Modi said on Twitter. Same message was posted on his other social media accounts also. The post read: “Your chance to take-over @narendramodi's social media accounts for a day! Are you a woman whose life and work can inspire the world? Do you know inspiring women who have made a difference in their spheres of life? Tweet or Post on Twitter/FB/Instagram using #SheInspiresUs. You can also shoot a video and post it on YouTube using #SheInspiresUs. Selected entries get a chance to take-over @narendramodi social media accounts & share their thoughts & ideas with the world!” 

This Women's Day, I will give away my social media accounts to women whose life & work inspire us. This will help them ignite motivation in millions.

Are you such a woman or do you know such inspiring women? Share such stories using #SheInspiresUs. pic.twitter.com/CnuvmFAKEu

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2020

At 9:30 pm on Monday, PM Modi had posted a message on various social media accounts, which many saw as an announcement ‘leaving social media’. "This Sunday, thinking of giving up my social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube. Will keep you all posted." The PM posted the same message on Facebook and Instagram. In no time, the message exploded and broke the internet. There were many speculations such as the government planning a new social media platform to PM Modi going for a ‘digital detox.’ That tweet was retweeted 48.9K times and garnered 172.2K ‘likes’.

Modi is known for his ability to connect with the masses through social media. According to The Economic Times, Modi had roughly 5.3 million followers in 2014 which rapidly grew over a period of five years. Modi is very active on social media, including Instagram and Twitter and regularly puts out texts on everything - from his speeches at various platforms to the places he went and the people he met. In 2018, an international survey ranked Modi among the top three leaders of the world. An annual survey by Gallup International put the Prime Minister at number three among the global leaders. The respondents in the survey, which was conducted among the people across 50 countries, rated Modi ahead of China's Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, then British Prime Minister Theresa May, Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu amongst others. The top ranking in the survey went to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, followed by French President Emmanuel Macron.