New Delhi: The Indian Army has revised its social media guidelines, allowing its personnel to sign up on Instagram for the first time, but strictly as “passive observers,” sources in the defence establishment said on Thursday.

Under the updated norms, Army personnel across all ranks are permitted to create Instagram accounts only to view content. They are barred from posting photos or videos, commenting on posts, reposting content, or even liking any post on the platform. The restriction effectively disallows any form of user-generated interaction.

Sources said the revised guidelines were introduced a few days ago as part of the Army’s broader effort to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital information ecosystem, while simultaneously preventing any inadvertent disclosure of sensitive or classified information.

“The revised guidelines essentially mean that Army personnel can now sign up on Instagram, but only as passive observers. They can consume content, but cannot engage with it in any manner,” a source explained, adding that even a ‘like’ qualifies as user-generated content and is therefore prohibited.

Earlier, Army personnel were permitted to access X (formerly Twitter) under similar restrictions. While they could view posts on the platform, posting, reposting, or commenting was not allowed. Instagram, however, was previously off-limits entirely.

According to sources, the decision reflects the Army’s recognition that complete isolation from social media is no longer practical in the digital age. “The information landscape has changed. The Army cannot remain disconnected from the information world,” a source said.

By allowing passive access, personnel can remain informed about developments within the country and globally, without risking operational security or data leaks.

The move aligns with remarks made by Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi during an interactive session at the Chanakya Defence Dialogue in November. Emphasising the importance of smartphones, Gen Dwivedi said modern soldiers must distinguish between “reacting impulsively” and “responding thoughtfully” in a digitally connected environment.

Highlighting the evolving nature of the force, he described today’s generation of soldiers as “socially conscious, digitally fluent and globally connected,” noting that smartphones are now essential for staying connected with family, accessing information, and reading digital content.