As an Indian who runs several political groups this is at best shoddy reporting by foreign media. Often NGOS in USA use this kind of news reporting to generate more donations for themselves by showing this poverty porn to their rich donors.

Lynchings do not get triggered by text. Indian people, even the poorest ones are not that stupid. Most often it is a case of genuine crime that the government fails to address. Recently two people of lower castes were badly beaten up for "using water of higher caste".[1] In reality the owner of the well was of even lower caste. The boys were swimming and pissing in the only well the entire region had of drinkable water. After several complains and requests the owner took matters into his own hands.

For almost every single lynching that media reports as "whatsapp driven", the further detailed investigations point out either deep personal grudge, network of crimes such as cow thefts or pure political murder disguised as mob justice. I have not come across 1 single instance were people just killed someone for a whatsapp message.

[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-natio...