DU’s Facebook page comes alive with ads, rumours and abuses

When the Delhi University administration started its Facebook page at the start of the admission season, the administrators of the websites had not thought they would have to do things other than answering students’ questions and posting updates about the admission process.

When the Delhi University administration started its Facebook page at the start of the admission season, the administrators of the websites had not thought they would have to do things other than answering students’ questions and posting updates about the admission process.

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But most were in for a mild shock when they spotted abuses and obscene messages being posted in the discussions section and the ‘wall’.

But these are not the page administrators’ biggest problem.

“The biggest issue is unwarranted advertisements. Coaching institutes, placement agencies and some private institutes have turned to our page to advertise,” said Gurpreet Singh Tuteja, deputy dean, Students’ Welfare, Delhi University.

“Also some students, while trying to give out information end up giving the wrong information. Every day, many times, we delete such advertisements,” Tuteja added.

The university officials had anticipated unfavourable response from some youngsters. “The abusive language and obscene messages were expected to a certain extent. But we did not know so many advertisements would crop up,” said a senior university official.

There are more than 360 discussion threads on the discussion board, ranging from CATE examination to the first cut-off list. Some students have also started discussion threads to quell their nervousness before the second cut-off list comes out in Tuesday.

The advertisements and foul language has forced the page administrators to post warnings and disclaimers on the page. “Comments containing/linking any abusive material, personal attacks, profanity or spam will be deleted. The comments can’t be used as advertisement space. So, please don’t endorse, promote or solicit on behalf of a product or service.

Advertisements on this Facebook page are not endorsed or commissioned by the University of Delhi,” a statement on the page says.