The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet’s approval of the Social Media Influencers Policy and the announcement of its guidelines have triggered a political debate in the state. Under the policy, the government plans to identify credible social media influencers to create awareness among the public about government schemes and development programmes. Influencers will reportedly be classified into different categories based on their follower count, with payments made accordingly.
Influencers to Be Paid Based on Follower Count
According to the policy, social media influencers with more than 1 lakh followers will be eligible for payments of up to Rs 15,000. Those with 50,000 to 99,999 followers can receive up to Rs 7,500, while influencers with 25,000 to 49,999 followers can be paid up to Rs 5,000.
Similarly, influencers with 10,000 to 24,999 followers will be eligible for payments of up to Rs 2,500. The government has framed the guidelines with the stated objective of using social media platforms to disseminate information about its schemes and development initiatives.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from various sections, with questions being raised over the government’s decision to allocate funds for social media promotion.
Questions Over Funding Priorities
Critics have pointed to statements by Minister Achannaidu regarding the government’s financial position. They have referred to his remarks that there were no funds to provide new pensions and that implementing the Aadabidda Nidhi scheme could put the state in a difficult financial situation.
At the same time, RTC Chairman Konakalla Narayana has reportedly said that the state transport corporation is not in a position to purchase new buses. Statements made by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the Assembly regarding the implementation of the Super Six guarantees have also become part of the ongoing political debate.
Against this backdrop, questions are being raised over the allocation of funds for social media influencer payments.
Opposition Raises Welfare-Related Concerns
The opposition parties have also been questioning the government over issues such as Aarogyasri dues, fee reimbursement and the distribution of kits to students.
The government has cited financial constraints while addressing issues concerning employees and workers. Against this backdrop, critics are questioning why funds are being allocated for social media influencers to promote the government when several welfare and public-service-related issues are still being raised.
The criticism centers on the government’s spending priorities rather than simply on the influencer policy itself.
Government Says Policy Aims to Create Public Awareness
The government maintains that the primary objective of the policy is to create awareness about government welfare schemes, development programmes and other public initiatives through social media platforms.
However, a political debate is continuing on social media over whether the policy is primarily intended to strengthen the government’s publicity machinery amid growing criticism of its performance.
The government’s decision to provide payments to influencers based on their follower count has therefore become a subject of political discussion.
Debate Over Government Publicity Spending
The key question now is how the government’s decision to allocate funds for social media promotion will be received politically, particularly at a time when concerns over funding for welfare schemes and other public services are being raised.
While the government has presented the influencer policy as a mechanism for improving public awareness of its programmes, opposition parties and critics are questioning the priority given to publicity spending amid concerns over financial resources.
The political response to the policy, and how the government implements the guidelines in practice, is likely to remain a topic of discussion in the coming days.
