Imnasenla
The once upon a time conversations and debates among friends in colleges, offices, booze joints, fellowships etc has finally found a platform in the form of social media in Nagaland today. It may be seen that there is immense thirst among Naga youths to voice out their concerns on issues of corruption, current affairs, Naga political problem etc. Social Media is reinventing the way young Nagas are thinking and bringing about a social change in the society.
Not many years ago, local newspapers were the only medium where serious social issues were highlighted by individuals who most often used surrogate names to conceal their real identity for fear or other reasons best known to them (except for some daring ones). Now that the local newspapers have virtually connected with their readers through social media in the form of Facebook and Twitter, it is enabling the voiceless to collaborate, coordinate, and give voice to their concerns. This has empowered the people to openly participate in discussions of sensitive nature and issues.
Today young men and women are not afraid to pinpoint the loopholes in the government machineries, NGOs, administration and the functioning of the church as well. They are even daring to criticize politicians and their families. I have been regularly monitoring the feeds on different social networks and the number of participants in these social networks is overwhelming and interesting. Social media is not only helping the voiceless to voice out their concerns but is also creating social activism in the society. The most recent one being the social work by NOOBS. Social change through social media is gradually happening in Nagaland. The witty conversations and arguments are no more buried within the four corners of the wall.
Social media network is facilitating young minds and their voices to come together and make a difference. With so much freedom now, young people are at liberty to say anything about anything (except when the Administrator leaves a warning). Even the most introvert person can say something in Facebook or Twitter.
Everyday so much is happening in these social media networks. These developments clearly note the importance of communication and its mediums. Many developed nations in the world have a history of social revolution through communication and mass media. And if only Nagas can use social media and other forms of media for positive change it can really make a big difference in the society. However, social media networks can also be used to incite social disharmony and conflicts. Some closed forums may be creating such discords which may provoke participants into serious communal issues as well. Extreme care and caution must be practiced while participating in such discussions and issues.
The opinions and discussions on different social media networks are helping us to understand the young minds and their aspirations. If only the policy makers, naga freedom fighters and elders have the time and means to access the social media networks, the opinions and suggestions of the youths will not go wasted. Infact political parties can put up suggestions on such social media networks if they want to have an X-Ray of themselves. This can help them to find a cure for their illnesses.
Social media networks can have its positive as well as its negative impacts like any other medium of mass media. This new media has the power to attract young people and has the potential of influencing their minds and their lifestyles. Research suggests that new media which includes social media networks can influence young people as they are the maximum users of these networks. Likewise, brands and other products have also entered such social networks to sell their products. With so much talk on self-reliance and stagnation in government jobs, some wise Naga entrepreneurs have started selling their products virtually. Thanks to the new media, it is creating avenues for young people to virtually set up online shops without the hassle of finding a real shop.
Social media can be used as a platform to inform, educate, transform, participate and thereby bring about social change in the society. If only leaders, politicians, stakeholders, educators etc., realize the importance of such social media networks, they will be able to reach out to the young people and harness the good from it.
