Opinions online

Opinions online

It’s still a debate across the globe whether social networking sites are a boon or bane for young minds. Nonetheless, Facebook and Twitter are surely influencing people’s opinions and even the media. Out in open
For India, the IPL fiasco with Lalit Modi and Shashi Tharoor
engaging in a war or tweets is the biggest example. “This kind of a thing was unheard of in Indian politics,” says Amit Sahay, senior journalist of a leading daily.

“We have always heard of scams and then reaction happening behind closed doors, and here was something that we were ‘following’,” adds MA student Pritha Roy. “Now you don’t need newspapers or panel discussions to form an opinion about someone, it’s like you’re connected directly,” says DU student Nimit Shashtri. No wonder why a new Oxford University study shows that methods of electioneering and political reporting during the recent general elections in Britain changed because of Facebook and Twitter.

Not only politics, the youth is also driven by the fast access to information. “Twitter is a platform for constant flow of information, even before it is flashed on a news channel,” says content developer Sumana Chakraborty.

Every leading media house now has Twitter handle that keep giving updates instantly. While the work of a journalist is cut out even more now, with so many people to be kept a tab on, it can be a tool as well. “I tweet about a phone I’m reviewing. This not only gets me feedback to write upon, it generates interest as well,” says Rajat Agrawal, editor, cellpassion.com. “If used, they are marketing devices too,” adds Sumana.