Abstract 68
Asha Hari and Remi Anna Sunny
Asha Hari and Remi Anna Sunny
The Role of Social Networking Sites in the
Creation and Generation of Dissent
Abstract
In our age of
technological upheaval, the internet has expanded the scope of public exposure.
With the advent of Social Networking Sites, common man has got a space to
express their protests or opinions regarding various socio-political issues
through ‘posts’, ‘shares’, ‘likes’ and ‘comments’.
Our paper
entitled “The Role of Social Networking Sites in the Creation and Generation of
Dissent” will focus on three core issues- the Koodankulam Nuclear Reactor
debate, the Mullapperiyar conflict, and the controversy regarding the use of
Endosulfan. It will analyze the various images and comments on Facebook and
Twitter used to mobilize public opinion and express dissent regarding these
issues. It also explores the semiotic elements at play in the verbal and visual
tools used to appeal to the netizans.
The role of
Social Networking Sites as a medium of creating a culture of dissent remains
undisputed. However there also arise certain questions about the inclusiveness
and effectiveness of the medium- whether Social Networking Sites are exclusive
to the more privileged classes of the society; whether they trivialize serious
issues and finally the honesty of intent of the users.
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