Stephen compares social media to rivers

At Jaipur Literature Festival, actor warns capitalism has contaminated once-hopeful digital platforms today

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His early optimism about social media giving way to deep concern, celebrated British author and actor Stephen Fry likened today's digital platforms to London's polluted rivers -- once life-giving, now contaminated by unchecked commercial interests.

Fry, who has left social media for good, in his session, "A Bit of Fry", at the ongoing 19th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF)) on Friday admitted that initially he was "awestruck" by the potential of social media, when people across North Africa and the Middle East were able to challenge corruption and hold leaders accountable.