In the wake of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, India is confronting not only grief and geopolitical tensions but also unsettling questions about how information flows in an increasingly polarised society. The tragedy has thrown a harsh light on the dangerous power of filter bubbles — digital spaces where algorithms feed users content that mirrors their beliefs and anxieties, reinforcing biases and deepening divides. These filter bubbles are the result of recommendation systems within social media platforms, designed to keep users engaged by showing them exactly what they want to see. The filter bubbles then create digital echo chambers where disagreement easily mutates into hostility, and difference becomes danger. But in moments like these, being fed only what comforts or confirms our biases can be deeply damaging to the fabric of a secular, democratic nation. At a time when empathy and reflection are most needed, these digital silos amplify fear and suspicion, creating friction in a nation built on plurality.
The attack, carried out by militants identifying themselves as part of The Resistance Front (TRF), targeted tourists in the scenic Baisaran Valley. Survivor accounts described harrowing scenes of violence and intimidation. Indian security agencies indicated possible cross-border links with extremist networks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the assault, pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice, and announced a series of diplomatic and security measures, including the temporary closure of a key land border and suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
But beyond the immediate geopolitical fallout, the attack has sparked a chilling wave of backlash against Kashmiri Muslims across the country. In the days following the incident, Kashmiris in cities like Jalandhar, Dehradun and Mumbai faced harassment, eviction, and communal abuse. In Dehradun, a fringe group issued an open ultimatum, demanding Kashmiri Muslims leave or “face unimaginable consequences.” Many students, terrified for their safety, fled to airports or confined themselves to hostels, too afraid to step outside for essentials. Amid scattered police interventions, the pervasive sense of mistrust and exclusion has left deep scars on young people far removed from the violence.
Much of this hostility finds fuel online, in an age where our lives are increasingly confined to the screens we hold in our palms. Recommendation systems designed to maximise engagement tend to serve users content that affirms their pre-existing worldviews. In moments of crisis, these filter bubbles become echo chambers of outrage and misinformation, where nuance is lost and communities are painted with a single, dangerous brush. This distortion of public perception has real-world consequences, turning digital animosity into threats, intimidation, and social isolation.
The tragedy in Pahalgam and its aftermath is a stark reminder of hatred’s cost — and a reality check on the insular digital spaces that shape how we see one another. Are we becoming a society where carefully curated screens dictate our understanding of complex realities, leaving no room for nuance or dialogue? In a country as layered and diverse as India, the dangers of such insular information bubbles are profound. Are we prepared to look beyond the comfortable confines of curated content and engage with the complexities of our shared, often uncomfortable, national story? Perhaps the reckoning we need lies not only in confronting external threats but in examining the divisions we quietly nurture within.
The writer is an enthusiast of Art, Media, Technology, and Culture, with a keen interest in how these four domains influence one another, creating ripples in society and human behaviour. In addition to her focus on technology, Sayanee writes extensively about art, history, food, and media, examining their cultural significance and their role in shaping social identities and practices.
