On social media, there is a concerning rise in influencers promoting unethical and illegal activities such as betting, online gaming, and questionable trading apps. Even though there are specific laws prohibiting these actions, they persist in deceiving the public, especially young people, by making untrue statements about the bans not being relevant. This careless conduct is leading to addiction, financial harm, and even suicide among young individuals who are lured by the promise of easy money from gambling.
The CCPA (Central Consumer Protection Agency) has repeatedly warned that legal measures will be taken against individuals promoting content related to gambling. Nevertheless, these cautions have had minimal impact in reducing the proliferation of promotional videos for gaming, dating apps, and online trading platforms on social media. The police have also emphasized that legal action will be taken if such videos are reported to them. Social media has a significant impact on the increase of betting advertisements, as influencers are attracting large audiences by producing interesting videos on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
A few of these influencers, who have established a substantial following, are currently endorsing betting and gaming apps, making considerable sums for every promotional video—often in the hundreds of thousands of rupees. These influencers take advantage of their wide audience to promote fraudulent trading websites for betting app operators and cyber gangs.
One well-known influencer often shares videos of his trips to exotic places. During a presentation of his way of life, he filmed a video endorsing a betting application as his main source of earnings. His promotion of betting apps, particularly among fans from Telugu-speaking states, caused concern due to his large number of followers. These influencers deceive viewers into thinking they can also easily earn money by utilizing these apps.
Many young individuals are being deceived by risky betting and online gaming promotions because they are not aware of the potential dangers. Influencers showcase their wealth, boasting of earning lakhs of rupees, frequently supported by fake tales of success.
This causes followers to trust that these apps are a valid method to make money quickly. Regrettably, a large number of individuals who are enticed into gambling or online trading ultimately lose substantial sums of money and, in severe instances, encounter consequences such as addiction and debt.
The government of Telangana has prohibited online gambling and gaming and it is considered a criminal offense to endorse these activities. It is completely forbidden to advertise or endorse betting apps on social media platforms. Those who deceive the public by endorsing fake websites and unethical activities will face legal consequences.
The rise in young people falling for scams emphasizes the immediate necessity for stronger regulations and educational initiatives to combat these dishonest marketing tactics. Officials are asking people on social media to flag inaccurate content and assist in safeguarding vulnerable individuals from being deceived.
