GS4 · UPSC Mains

Civil servants are usually considered as the behind-the-scenes operators of plans and policies of the government. Being the permanent executive, they are expected to work without getting into the limelight while it is up to the politicians to hog the limelight for their political ends. But in recent times, a trend is developing where civil servants, especially younger ones, have taken to social media to post their day-to-day activities on a regular basis. Some studies suggest that some of the officers have attained a level of popularity that does not trail too far behind celebrities and influencers in India. Most of these officers with social media presence argue that this helps them connect with the people and also inspire the younger generation. However, many senior civil servants strongly oppose such a trend. They believe that some of the content shared by such officers is excessively publicity-seeking, violates the 'principles' of the civil services, and may even be disadvantageous to their own career as well as the service as a whole. There have been calls from various quarters advising the young officers to desist from creating a filmstar like image of themselves. In this context, answer the following questions. (a) What are the ethical issues associated with the excessive use of social media by civil servants? (b) How can social media be effectively utilized by public officials? (Answer in 250 words)

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