Spring Internal Assessment 2023

SPRING INTERNAL ASSESSMENT 2023
COMPONENT 1 – ARTICLE WRITING

BY
Name of the Candidate – MADHUSMITA BEHERA
Roll no. – 2283089
Semester – 2nd
Course – B.A.LL. B. (Hons) Section (A)
NAME OF THE SUBJECT – CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL ISSUES [
LW 1116]
TOPIC – THE IMPACT OF OTT PLATFORMS ON YOUTH
INTRODUCTION
“Over-the-top platforms” commonly referred to as OTT platforms, are web-based services
that provide streaming video and audio content. You can pay for the types of content you
want to see on the OTT services. No dealings with a cable provider, satellite connection, or
other broadcasting platforms. As a result of worldwide digitization, media consumption has
changed. New OTT media that provides services to viewers directly via the internet has
developed as a result of an increase in internet connections, better networks, technological
improvements, and the accessibility of smart gadgets. The unprecedent pandemic situation
has led to closing of movie theatres due to which movie producers are now shifting towards
Over the-top platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hotstar, HBO among others to
release their movies. During this time, it has also been noted that consumers, particularly
"Youths" in India, are shifting their viewing habits. The most popular forms of entertainment
in India, particularly in urban and semi-urban areas, are films and television shows. These
programmes unquestionably have a great deal of potential and power to affect people's
attitudes, behaviours, and mental processes. It is frequently seen that young people, especially
kids and teenagers, are prone to pick up dialogue and songs from movies or TV shows, and
that this has a profound effect on their minds both consciously and subconsciously for a long
time. It subsequently has a significant impact on character and personality development.
They perceive the world differently than other folks do and witnessing violent or abusive
behaviour give them the impression that such behaviour is commonplace and accepted by
society as a whole. Web series has no time bound. Many, especially young people, are willing
to compromise everything in order to watch their favourite web series because they are
typically youth-based and highly addictive that leads to “binge-watching”. The young
audience frequently engages in binge-watching, which is slowly but surely taking the shape
of addiction, affecting their lifestyles, health, and eating disorder. As a result, the alterations
made the entertainment irksome, mainly for millennials. Web series have a huge impact on
young people and society at large.
It appears to be specifically designed for the youthful generation, also known as Gen-Z, who
is known to live online, since they are strengthening the Indian entertainment market. Web
series have their own fan bases in addition to the large and devoted followings enjoyed by
OTT platforms in today's generation. Youth can freely participate on a variety of OTT
platforms on the internet, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Voot, MX Player, HBO,
and others. Moreover, we used to watch the dramatic Serials contrast, but times have
changed, and we now enjoy web series with dark comedy, fantasy-based action, conspiracy,
mystery, real-life events, LGBTQ+ related content, and many more. Teenagers as well as
adults feel anxious and want to live in their virtual world, away from real life. Nonetheless,
despite the fact that web series might have detrimental effects, the majority of them end up
inspiring viewers. After the OTT platform has introduced a variety of web series and
documentaries, which are knowledgeable as well as creates curiosity among the viewers,
these documentaries are incredibly educational and fascinating and it also helps to develop
young person’s interest in a subject connected to learning and because of that people tend to
subscribe to such channels and pay the subscription charges. This has indirectly led to
economic growth as it is flexible in nature. Fan following has increased and their profit ratio
has also been increased. This has led to positive impact on the economic front of our nation.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The total impact of web series and web movies on viewers, particularly young people, in
terms of their psychological and social aspects is the subject of this research article. Because
of the subscription fees for these Over-the-Top platforms are so cheap in India, the
development of digitalization or technology, and the viewers have changed how people
currently consume online content today allowing them to view it in terms of location, choice
of content, language, location, or device.
Madnani, Fernandes and Madnani (2020) study revealed that lockdown period the people
especially the youth who were working from home were also consuming a lot of OTT content
which further increased viewership on these platforms.
Joshi Anushree (2019) has found out in her research that internet has popularised the OTT
applications like Netflix, Prime, etc and viewers are very much keen to watch the web series
seamlessly over 4G network.
Dhanuka, Aditya, Bohra, Abhilash (2019) have inferred in their exploration that youth
become more and more addictive towards watching these web series. They have an adverse
effect on the emotional, physical, and psychological health.
Qiu, Fan & Cui, Yi. (2010) concluded in their research that viewer’s behaviour is very
important while designing the streaming of videos because there is high volatility and
dynamism in the behaviour of consumers.
DISCUSSION
The generation is affected by OTT platforms in both positive and negative ways. On the one
hand, it increases one's knowledge, but it also exposes adolescents to offensive and
uncensored content. When platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar, etc. produce
content for their own commercial interests that contains extremely violent and abusive
material, the debate over OTT (over-the-top) platforms is starting to get attention in India.
OTT platforms are not the problem here, but their content. India has world’s largest
population of youths and this is the reason why all the OTT platforms create such content,
which could drag attention of youths so that they subscribe the platform, violent and political
contents are created. Sometimes, sensitive social issues are also added to give caste and
religious colour. Since cinema is a reflection of society and can transform a country's cultural
and economic landscape as well as its youth's way of life. Yet, combining contentious issues
with obscenities for commercial gain is dangerous.
Youths are often influenced by the characters, which is the cause of it. They often adopt
offensive language and loose decency, respect, and morality in their culture as well as
society. Uncensored content is shown on OTT platforms. The younger generations find it
easier to pick up offensive words and even culturally incompatible behaviour. They tend to
lose the morals and decency that society has instilled in them since they were young as they
adopt the culture of the virtual world. Any web series or movie streamed via an OTT platform
needs to get a censorship certificate. There should be a minimum age requirement to see
some objectionable content.
Therefore, it is legitimate to bring some guidelines for these platforms to protect the cultural
values among the youth. The Indian government has also brought rules regarding this. The
new rules are called Information Technology (intermediary guidelines and Digital Media
Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. According to the new rules, “The OTT platforms would self-
classify the content into five age-based categories-U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+, U/A 16+,
and A (Adult). Platforms would be required to implement parental locks for content classified
as U/A 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification mechanisms for content classified as “A”.
The publisher of online curated content shall prominently display the classification rating
specific to each content or programme together with a content descriptor informing the user
about the nature of the content, and advising on viewer description (if applicable) at the
beginning of every programme enabling the user to make an informed decision, prior to
watching the programme.
CONCLUSION
As we know OTTs are very popular in today’s generation. No doubt that these platforms are
an excellent source of entertainment but keeping it to the level of entertainment and not
making it something on which our lives depend would be enough to save us. People from 15
to 24 years old age range prefer these platforms over movie theatres for watching movies due
to three main factors: content, convenience, and cost. Thus, it can be stated that OTT
consumption is becoming advance in our country among the younger generation as it is
thriving in today’s market by providing opportunity for content providers to reach out to new
users and grow their subscriber base. OTT platforms can be both a blessing and a curse.
Therefore, people especially the younger generation should realise that these platforms are
here to be use as stress buster not as a lifestyle.
References: https://udayindia.in/impact-of-ott-platforms-on-youth/
https://www.academia.edu/43660078/STUDY_OF_IMPACT_OF_ONLINE_STREA
MING_SERVICES_OSS_ON_YOUTH_OF_18_TO_24_YEARS_GROUP_WITH_REFEREN
CE_TO_NAVI_MUMBAI_

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SPRING INTERNAL ASSESSMENT 2023

COMPONENT 1 – ARTICLE WRITING

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