01520nam a22001337a 4500 532092 532092 251211b ||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d Sinha, kumar Satish 58186 Weaponising Influence: Navigating the impact of social media on Indian armed forces U.S.I. Journal 155(641), Jul-Sep, 2025: p.509-520 The advent of Web 2.0 has revolutionised communication paradigms, with social media emerging as a pervasive force influencing every facet of modern life—including national security and the armed forces. While traditionally shielded by institutional seclusion, military personnel today are intensely enmeshed in a digital ecosystem that fosters connectivity as well as vulnerability. This article critically examines the multidimensional impact of social media on the Indian Armed Forces, primarily focusing on behavioural, operational, and organisational aspects. It evaluates threats such as psychological manipulation, information or narrative warfare, ideological polarisation, and data leaks, and proposes a roadmap that balances operational security with strategic narrative dominance. The article recommends an institutional recalibration of internal communication, artificial intelligence-enabled monitoring tools, and a proactive narrative strategy to safeguard morale and operational effectiveness of the armed forces.- Reproduced https://usiofindia.org/pdf/USI_Journal_July_Sept_2025_Issue.pdf U.S.I. Journal AR 0 0 ddc 0 0 407281 IIPA IIPA 2025-12-11 155(641), Jul-Sep, 2025: p.509-520 AR137733 2025-12-11 AR