What makes you spend time and interact with unknown people in virtual world at the cost of spending time with known people in real world?
A person can only meet a limited number of people in real life but in virtual world he can interact with many, share/exchange ideas/views and get to know issues from a different perspective. Virtual world people shed inhibitions and speak more clearly unless you are hooked with the wrong set of people.
What does it take to become a twitter celebrity? What makes you so popular in the online world?
I don’t know and it is not very important for me.
How do you view the role of social media in changing political course of the country?
The role of social media has become increasingly important due to the changing social demographics. With families becoming nuclear and life pressures increasing lot of people prefer to spend time in the virtual world and connect with each other. Maybe in the next 10 years social media will occupy a prominent space in politics.
Even though over 2 per cent population of India is on twitter and over 7 per cent is on Facebook, only a handful of people dominates political discourse on social media, most seems uninterested?
Presently it is new and most are immature but it will evolve with time. In the next 10 years, people will gain maturity. They will begin respecting the social media and form their own opinions.
Can we afford to have an unrestricted social media without any govt control, intervention and censorship?
We should have no government control – it should be self-regulated. In the event of trolls or issues we should have a resource to complain but it should not be regulated. Minimum regulation should be there but India does not understand the meaning of minimum or adequate – either it is no or full.
How does it affect you emotionally? Do you get attached to the people online, without even meeting them? Do they become real life friends/foes ?
At times yes – if you have interacted with people for a considerable time then they become your virtual friends and like real life you tend to be concerned about them and their issues do affect you.
Does right-wing control social media hurt the ethos of the country?
Not it doesn’t affect.
Will online support for Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi convert into votes?
Not presently but yes in future social media could play a major role in influencing people’s mindset. Presently Indians still want person to person contact.
What is politically more relevant –Twitter or facebook ?
Is social media killing reading habits? Do you get most of the news through social media?
Yes. Especially for newspapers
Will you feel uneasy if your cellphone is taken away from you for 48 hours?
Oh definitely it will affect me.
What is your own definition pertaining to Social Media?
It’s a place to interact, exchange ideas, be updated with what world thinks and how.
Is social media a ‘major threat? Is it a boon or bane?
If used properly social media is a boon otherwise it is a bane.
Do you think Social media will ever dominate or overpower main stream media?
Not in the near future maybe 20 years down the line.
What is your message to our readers, those who are on social network?
People should interact but with controls. They should maintain self-regulation.
How social network has benefitted you in your growth in all aspirations?
It has been a boon to me and other thinkers and writers as we can voice our opinions on any burning issue and do not have to really wait for our views to appear in newspapers. Social networking is not controlled by any individual so I value the freedom it offers. My views reach out to people in the world in nano seconds enabling a reaction too at the same speed. Social networking sites make the saying come true; ‘strike when the coal is hot.’ I always do that so the effect multiplies in my life as my experience says.
Do you think social media will ever dominate or overpower main stream media?
Yes. It is seen that new technology takes over the world. It can be likened to the fact that old generation makes way for the new. Now in smart phone era do you remember pagers! Gradually it has to happen.
Do you agree that people have lost contact with the real world being on social network?
There is a fine line between the real and the virtual world. Communicating enables you to reach out and network with known and unknown people. Social network in fact brings us closer to the real world.
Is social network is an addition to the 21st century society?
Definitely so and believe me social networking will be a major player in the next few years and reckoned as information generating machine.
Describe the disadvantage of social network.
Irresponsible and cunning people can use social network to malign a person’s image especially criminal and anti-social element, disperse rumours and harm people’s personal life by spreading malicious messages. Compared to advantages, disadvantages are very narrow.
What are the advantages of social network?
Dispersing information, effective means of communication, keeping abreast with national and international happenings, voicing opinions can put social networking in favourable position and multiply your creativity without obstacle of any ideological ism.
What is your message to our readers, those who are on social network?
Use social networking as a tool of communication, to bridge gaps between our world and outside world, make it work in your favour, use it positively to reach out to family and friends and respect each other’s privacy. Latest communication and technology with human face is a blessing for budding stars. USE IT OR LOSE IT. CHOICE IS YOURS.
