After China’s new influencer law, experts urge India to curb unqualified online advisors

India needs a law to stop the ‘reel experts’

<p data-start="0" data-end="461"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Every day, millions of Indians scroll through reels and videos where influencers confidently diagnose mental health issues, offer financial advice, or interpret legal matters, often without any formal education or professional training. The bigger concern is how easily these opinions are accepted as truth. In a country where social media influence often outpaces scientific understanding, this trend has quietly evolved into a serious misinformation crisis.</span></p>
<p data-start="463" data-end="798"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Recently, China implemented a new law restricting influencers from discussing law, medicine, or finance unless they hold verified qualifications in those fields. The decision aims to protect citizens from inaccurate and harmful content that spreads unchecked across social platforms. It&rsquo;s an approach India should seriously consider.</span></p>
<h3 data-start="800" data-end="835"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Rise of the &ldquo;Reel Expert&rdquo;</span></strong></h3>
<p data-start="836" data-end="1086"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Influencer culture in India has exploded in recent years. From Instagram health coaches to YouTube finance mentors, social media is flooded with self-proclaimed experts who project confidence and authority. Yet confidence does not equal competence.</span></p>
<p data-start="1088" data-end="1514"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The danger lies in how audiences absorb this content as legitimate guidance. Many people replace doctors with wellness vloggers, therapists with &ldquo;affirmation coaches,&rdquo; and certified financial advisors with charismatic traders promoting high-risk apps. Legal influencers often oversimplify complex laws just to drive engagement. What appears as empowerment is often the manipulation of public trust for clicks and visibility.</span></p>
<h3 data-start="1516" data-end="1557"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">When Misinformation Turns Dangerous</span></strong></h3>
<p data-start="1558" data-end="1998"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The pandemic demonstrated how quickly false information can spread. Dubious home remedies, unverified medical claims, and misleading health hacks went viral within hours. In 2023, several so-called financial influencers promoted fraudulent investment schemes that led to massive losses for unsuspecting users. In mental health spaces, untrained creators frequently normalize trauma or glorify depression to attract sympathy and followers.</span></p>
<p data-start="2000" data-end="2094"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The outcomes are damaging: confusion, misplaced trust, and in some cases, irreversible harm.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Psychologist <strong>Pal Raval</strong> says, &ldquo;In my opinion, I agree with the need for such a law. While people have the freedom of speech, spreading inaccurate information about psychology that directly or indirectly affects a person&rsquo;s mental health or overall well-being must be taken seriously.&rdquo;</span></p>
<h3 data-start="2096" data-end="2128"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Why India Needs Regulation</span></strong></h3>
<p data-start="2129" data-end="2350"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Introducing regulations for content creators in sensitive fields would bring much-needed accountability. Journalism, medicine, and law already follow ethical standards, and social media influence should be no different.</span></p>
<p data-start="2352" data-end="2619"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">If creators wish to share advice on health, finance, or legal issues, they should be required to hold verified credentials or collaborate with licensed professionals. A certification or disclosure system could help distinguish genuine information from mere opinion.</span></p>
<p data-start="2621" data-end="3278"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advocate <strong>Hemang Shah</strong>, commenting on the issue, said, &ldquo;Under the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) guidelines issued in 2019, influencers are expected to disclose any monetary benefits, but these rules are not mandatory and often go unenforced. The first offence may attract a fine of ₹10 lakh, which can go up to ₹50 lakh, but that alone isn&rsquo;t enough. A stricter, legally binding framework is urgently needed. Many non-lawyers comment on ongoing cases without understanding the legal nuances or case-specific laws, which can easily mislead the public. There must be a law to curb such misinformation, as mere guidelines clearly aren&rsquo;t working.&rdquo;</span></p>
<h3 data-start="3280" data-end="3313"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lessons from China&rsquo;s Policy</span></strong></h3>
<p data-start="3314" data-end="3392"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">China&rsquo;s law offers a framework worth studying. Similar rules in India could:</span></p>
<ul data-start="3393" data-end="3706">
<li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-start="3393" data-end="3461">
<p data-start="3395" data-end="3461"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Require verified qualifications for content in specific domains.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-start="3462" data-end="3550">
<p data-start="3464" data-end="3550"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Make it mandatory to label posts as &ldquo;personal opinion&rdquo; when no credentials are held.</span></p>
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<li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-start="3551" data-end="3624">
<p data-start="3553" data-end="3624"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Impose penalties for repeated misinformation that causes public harm.</span></p>
</li>
<li style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;" data-start="3625" data-end="3706">
<p data-start="3627" data-end="3706"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Encourage partnerships between certified experts and responsible influencers.<br><br></span></p>
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<p data-start="0" data-end="344" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mental health expert <strong>Ritika Shah</strong> says, &ldquo;Fear narrows our ability to think clearly. As a psychologist, I see the impact that fear has on people&rsquo;s choices. It causes them to react to situations rather than assess them. Having more reliable information communicated by qualified professionals can reduce panic, confusion, and misguided decisions.&rdquo;</span></p>
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<h3 data-start="3994" data-end="4036"><strong><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Building a Culture of Responsibility</span></strong></h3>
<p data-start="4037" data-end="4307"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Influence comes with power, and power demands accountability. India&rsquo;s digital space has expanded rapidly, but ethical oversight has not kept pace. Creators must recognize the weight of their platforms, and audiences must learn to question and verify what they consume.</span></p>
<p data-start="4309" data-end="4475"><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The digital age needs more than viral trends; it needs verified truth. As the line between expertise and entertainment continues to blur, India must act decisively.</span></p>
<p data-start="4477" data-end="4565" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node=""><span style="font-family: georgia, palatino, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Perhaps it&rsquo;s time to embrace a new rule for the online world: <strong>no degree, no opinion.</strong></span></p>

5 નવેમ્બર, 2025 | 20:21 IST

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