Over the years, the internet has grown to become a powerful force in our lives. Almost all of our day-to-day businesses can be done online today, including politics. In many elections all around the world, online communities have served as a source for people to participate and engage in politics.
Social platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, Tiktok, and many others are used to exchange ideas easily. The availability of these communities has resulted in more civic engagement in democratic societies.
Although there are challenges such as the spread of misinformation, the benefits of these communities in politics outweigh the problems. These platforms have made it easier to mobilize collective action and advocate for social transformation.
In this article, we will discuss how online communities are affecting the political sphere and how they are causing change in India.
Online Communities and Political Change
In several countries of the world, citizens have harnessed the power of social media to change the course of their nation. A good example is the Arab Spring, a series of protests and uprisings against governments across the Arab world that started in December 2010.
The Arab Spring began with the Tunisian Revolution, a 28-day campaign that led to the disposal of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011, the President of Tunisia from 1987 to 2011. He fled to Saudi Arabia after the revolution.
From Tunisia, the revolution moved to five other nations: Egypt, Syria, Libya, Bahrain, and Yemen. The other revolutions also resulted in the removal of Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya in 2011.
During these protests, the use of social platforms increased rapidly in these countries, except Libya. Tunisian and Egyptian activists made use of platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Pages were created to raise awareness of issues such as police brutality. The activists also used social media to organize and mobilize people. The internet made it easier for citizens to plan the participation and logistics of the protests.
Another good example is the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement that kicked off in 2013. The movement aims to fight against racism, racial inequality, and discrimination experienced by black people. It began initially with the use of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on different social media after George Zimmerman who shot black teenager Trayvon Martin was acquitted in Florida. In 2020, BLM became one of the biggest movements in the USA after the death of George Floyd. Over 15 million people join the BLM protests and it gained international attention.
The Role of Online Communities in Driving Political Change in India
In India, the internet has also helped to push movements that resulted in political changes. An example was the anti-corruption movement led by activist Anna Hazare in 2011. Thousands of followers inspired by Anna Hazare took to social media to share their views and show solidarity with the leader. He became one of the most popular Indian personalities on Facebook after the movement began as thousands of people ‘liked’ his page. Other pages such as ‘Support Anna Hazare’s Fastr Against Corruption’ were also created to support the movement.
Another case is that of the #MeToo campaign that started in 2006 but went viral in 2017. The campaign which was founded to stand against sexual harassment, sexual abuse, and rape gained momentum in India in 2018. It broke out in India when model and actress Tanushree Dutta accused Nana Patekar of sexual harassment. As a result, many other women took to social media to share their sexual assault experience and call for justice.
Online Communities and Responsible Gambling
The responsible gambling campaign is another movement that the internet has helped to become successful. This campaign seeks to promote safe gambling and help problem gamblers. Forums like onlinecasinoguide.in promote responsible gambling practices and support community initiatives. Top Indian casinos like casinodays.com also provide responsible gambling tools on their website to help players restrict their playing time and how much they spend.
Online Communities and the Video Game Landscape
Even though video gaming communities exist for entertainment, they have also been great avenues for socialization. On many of these platforms, political conversations and social change initiatives are also being discussed and promoted. Many gaming communities have also challenged stereotypes, advocate for inclusivity, and raised awareness on social issues.
For example, during the BLM protests in 2020, a group of GTA online gamers held a virtual memorial in honor of George Floyd and in support of the movement. They hosted a live stream where more than 60 players came together online, dressed in black. The players marched together and saluted the victim while participants and viewers made donations to support the movement.
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