Some promote causes, others conscript others into the oddly magnetic concept of flash mobs, while others give wickedly light-hearted social commentary. But would they all have a voice, fame — or notoriety — so fast, so soon, in a world without Social Network?
“Things did become big before the advent of social networking,” says Shahana Nair Joshi, whose blog post, Open Letter to a Delhi Boy, seemed to be the only thing most people read (online) and recommended at one point of time. “There is such a thing as word of mouth.”
But would word of mouth have helped movements like the SlutWalk Delhi garner as much support? Umang Sabarwal, who organised the Delhi chapter of the global movement against harassment of women, describes how initial realisation of SlutWalk’s fame sunk in. “We were sitting at the Kamala Nehru College canteen,” she reminisces. “Suddenly, there was all this online attention... thousands of people joining the Facebook page every day!”
That doesn’t mean that social media doesn’t have its flipside. Umang says it lets people think that it’s okay not to engage in any real action, outside of discussing issues on a networking site.
Networking platforms also have limitations. “Facebook offers a slightly limited platform, only friends or friends of friends can access your posts. Twitter has really opened up the arena,” says Hari Chakyar, who dwells on Facebook and Twitter as warrior Nature Baba. Hari also took to YouTube to post a video of his latest initiative, Project 35 Trees.
Shahana realised the “speed of social networking” when Open Letter... was the top Twitter trend on a day when Scarlett Johansson’s nude pictures were leaked online (Scarlett trended at No.4). “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God! I’ve displaced arguably the hottest woman on the planet’,” laughs Shahana. “Shame on Indian men!”