Name: Ghanshyam Katariya
Paper 205A: Cultural Studies
Subject Code: 22410
Topic Name: "Social Media and its Impact on Indian Culture"
Batch: M.A. Sem-3(2022-24)
Roll No: 7
Enrolment No: 4069206420220017
Email Address: gkatariya67@gmail.com
Submitted to: Smt. S. B. Gardi, Department of English, MKBU
Title: "Social Media and its Impact on Indian Culture"
Introduction:
Social media has seamlessly woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives, reshaping the way we communicate, express ourselves, and engage with the world. This transformation is particularly pronounced in India, where the rich tapestry of traditional culture intersects dynamically with the digital realm. The influence of social media on Indian culture is multifaceted, showcasing both its positive and negative impacts. As we delve into this intricate relationship, it becomes evident that social media has not only connected people on an unprecedented scale but has also become a powerful force shaping cultural expression, familial bonds, political discourse, and social activism.
In this interconnected digital age, the use of platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram has redefined communication patterns, allowing for instantaneous connections across vast distances. The virtual space has become a canvas for individuals to proudly showcase their cultural identity, celebrate festivals, and share regional customs. However, this digital evolution comes with its set of challenges, influencing family dynamics, friendships, and even political landscapes. Striking a delicate balance between the positives and negatives is crucial as we navigate the impact of social media on the intricate tapestry of Indian culture.
Communication Evolution:
Social media platforms, notably WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, have revolutionized communication in India, fostering instant connectivity. These platforms are integral to daily interactions, serving as primary channels for sharing opinions, images, and updates. WhatsApp, with its widespread usage, has become the backbone of quick and direct communication, bridging geographical gaps. Facebook and Instagram have seamlessly integrated into social discourse, offering virtual spaces for sharing cultural expressions and personal narratives. In essence, these platforms have redefined communication patterns, making information exchange more immediate, interactive, and pervasive in the Indian context.
As communications and transportation technologies evolved, think printing press and sailing ships, cultures around the world collided more often and ideas spread. Fast forward to the late twentieth century and we have an incredible change. Within 24 hours you can cross the globe. You can speak to anyone almost anywhere in the world within seconds. You can also share with them music, text and audio, all elements of transmitting cultural ideas and concepts. (Crouch)
A primary use of culture by humans is the knowledge it provides us on how to navigate our daily lives, communities, families and society. Today, we have removed the shatter zones, the buffers between cultures, including the limiting factors of time and geography. Where once we had time to think about and decide whether or not we liked another cultures technologies, music, ideas and literature, this is no longer the case. (Crouch)
Cultural Expression on Social Media:
Social media enables ideas and cultural elements to spread very quickly, reducing the issues of friction and time. Whereas before, we had elders, councils and other political and social leaders to think about and weigh in on an issue, these forms of “sober second thought” no longer exist either. (Crouch)
Cultures around the world have always had some form of leadership or counsel to act as a filter and aid in social discourse. Some cultures were more egalitarian, others highly religious and forms of leadership have varied widely for millennia, but they existed. Now, they do not. We have leadership, counsels and various forms of government, but they have little impact on broader cultural considerations. (Crouch)
The development of new media has a deep connection with social conditions and political developments. Globalization attempted to turn the whole world into a world village. The economy of globalization transgressed the boundaries of countries. Due to which economies of countries all over the world joined each other. Similarly, the communication revolution has also connected the countries of the world to each other. Now the people of one country know better about the society of other country. Indian society has also been affected by this wide spread of media. Today, social media has provided many opportunities for people to connect with each other and share the problems of their time and society with each other. WhatsApp and Facebook are the most popular mediums in India. According to a report, 56 percent of internet users in India use WhatsApp and 51 percent use Facebook. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is reported to have 900 million users all over the world, most of which are in India. But on the one hand, this association has come along with social conservatism, casteism, religious bigotry, crimes against women, Dalits and minorities. New media has also been used to promote social hatred. There is no doubt that social media is gaining momentum as a powerful media today. (SHARMA)
Social Activism and Awareness:
Through this, the message of social reform, environment, anti-war, anti-globalization and world peace can be easily conveyed to every corner of the world. Today all the institutions or NGOs working globally are using different forms of new media. The advantage of the new media is that even in the face of government pressure and repression,democratic policies can be opposed through it. YouTube, Facebook and other social media networks are being used to bring forth issues related to the environment in particular. (SHARMA)
Today social media is acting as a literary campaigner. The more the spread of literature, the more availability it will expand. Every technological invention is absolute which can be used for all kinds of work. Whether it is good or bad, the impact of social media is not just negative. The lexicon of forums such as Twitter has made the practice of speaking up and speaking in the least possible. Social media has given cores of people a new strength, a new flavor and courage in participation in small debates, through public expression and making it possible for the public to express their thoughts, their thoughts and experiences without fear and restraint and control. This new force has made governments and rulers more transparent, communicative and accountable, providing a new means of knowing the minds and pulse of the public. The power of social media has also forced governments to change their decisions, policies and practices. (SHARMA)
Politics and social media
The advent of social media has enabled an unprecedented empowerment and engagement of the ‘aam aadmi’ for expressing political opinions. A positive development of social media emergence has been that the youth is talking about the political issues. Earlier the political discussions were restricted only to those who read newspapers, watched news channels or participated in discussions in nukkad of a village or clubs. (Kaur and Kaur)
Social media is now being used by Indian politicians and plays pivotal role in Indian politics.
As it is the major source of transferring the information and contact with the people of different ages and it is the best platform to get in touch with the Indian youth and now it becomes necessary for the politicians to reveal their own participation on different platforms of social media with the help of this they can promote their parties and share their views using social media in the public. In lok Sabha elections 2014 Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has been using the services provided by the social media and convinces the people, achieved their votes and succeeded. Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister of India now The Prime Minister has crossed 44 Million followers on Twitter. Social media has been strategically used by BJP to publicise the party, share their thoughts, to target and highlight those problems which are facing by the Indian people and so on. (Singh)
In recent times, Indian political landscape has seen two major national parties, Indian National Congress and BhartiyaJanta Party fighting an online political battle. Online propaganda is aggressively used against each other. Each and every medium is used to wage war of words. One tweet leads the other to respond immediately. The most famous tweets from both sides were, BJP calling Rahul Gandhi as ‘Pappu’ and Congress calling NarinderModi as ‘Feku’. Both the parties try to downplay the achievement and exaggerate the failures of each other. Both sides claim to have large number of followers (Kaur and Kaur)
Challenges and Concerns:
World has become a global village, due to globalization. In these days, Students are going to leeds for their further studies. Indian people mostly settled outside India or some other part of the country. Social media plays pivotal role keeping them in touch or connected with their family members. Voice as well as video calls do not let them feel that they are far away from their home and country. They share their ideas and what is happening around them. On the other hand, youth spend most of their time to send meaningless data, texting and gossips on the social media with their pals. (Singh)
The excessive use of social media could lead to possibly noxious effects on an adolescents mental as well physical health. For, research on social media and mental health of juveniles have escalated in these days, with many researches and studies exploring whether constant use of social media is correlated with several mental health troubles along with anxiety, stress and depression, disorder eating, insomnia, frustration, feeling alone and externalizing problems. (Singh)
In a survey conducted by Dr. Debahuti Panigrahi in paper “ Impacts of Social Media upon Indian Youth” finds that “Most of the students hold the view that spending most of the day online creates lot of physical ailments i.e. constant mild–severe headache, loss of sleep, eye-pain, loosing eyesight early, loss of appetite. All this leads to poor health and constant and severe irritation, which turns into anxiety disorder. A sane mind is required to nurture a relationship or to focus in studies, which is absent in students leading virtual life. 74% of the students agree to the fact that a mild quarrel online could lead to a break up in relationship. Hundred percent of the respondents agree that due to social media a break up is highlighted among friends that makes patch up impossible, which again becomes detrimental to their inner sanity. (Panigrahi)”
Conclusion:
In the ever-evolving landscape of social media and Indian culture, a nuanced understanding is imperative to harness the positive aspects while mitigating the challenges that arise. The digital era has ushered in unprecedented connectivity, allowing for the swift dissemination of cultural expressions, ideas, and social movements. However, the same platforms that empower can also pose challenges, from the potential dilution of traditional values to the spread of misinformation and impacts on mental health.
As we tread further into this digital age, it is essential to cultivate a mindful approach, embracing the opportunities for cultural exchange and expression while addressing the concerns that may arise. The intricate dance between social media and Indian culture requires a delicate balance, one that acknowledges the transformative power of technology while safeguarding the essence of cultural heritage. In doing so, we can navigate this complex relationship, ensuring that social media becomes a tool for enrichment rather than a force of cultural erosion.
Words= 1827
Resources
Crouch, Giles. “The Effects of Social Media and Global Culture.” Giles Crouch | Digital Anthropologist, 13 March 2022, https://gilescrouch.medium.com/the-effects-of-social-media-and-global-culture-febd6858b6c. Accessed 27 November 2023.
Kaur, Surjit, and Manpreet Kaur. “Impact of Social Media on Politics - Surjit Kaur.” GJIMT, 2013, https://www.gjimt.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/3_Surjit-Kaur_Manpreet-Kaur_Impact_of_social_Media_on_Politics.pdf. Accessed 27 November 2023.
Panigrahi, Debahuti. “IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA UPON INDIAN YOUTH: ASSESSMENT OF CULTURAL LAG.” http://ijrar.com, IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 2019, http://ijrar.com/upload_issue/ijrar_issue_20543259.pdf. Accessed 27 November 2023.
SHARMA, RAJESH KUMAR. “Social media play a important role to the regeneration of Indian culture and language.” IJCRT, International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts (IJCRT), 2021, https://ijcrt.org/papers/IJCRT21A6028.pdf. Accessed 27 November 2023.
Singh, Jaswinder. “Impact of Social Media on Indian Youth with Special Reference to Covid-19.” International Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering (IJITEE), 30 July 2020, https://www.ijitee.org/wp-content/uploads/papers/v9i9/I7627079920.pdf. Accessed 27 November 2023.
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