The 10 Social Media Stories of Social Change in India

“Can social media lead to social change?” has been the open ended and much debated question for a while now. Although no direct correlation can ever be proven nor can one admonish all possibilities given the many instances in which social media has played a conducive role.

We bring you 10 stories from India where social media made a real life impact and difference in a person’s life, our society or the government.

1. Mumbai Blasts 2011

The hashtags #heretohelp #needhelp went viral along with a google doc sheet that contained crowd sourced information like phone numbers for lifts, addresses for accommodation, blood types for donations, blood bank numbers, nearby hospital, police control rooms, names of missing persons etc. There were tweeple moderating the open source sheet to edit out information that seemed fake or malicious.

2. Anna Hazare

There is no stronger case study that disproves that online engagement for a cause stops at arm chair activism. With over 5 lakh fans on Facebook and remaining in the top list of trending topics in India during all of his fasting period, Anna Hazare not only just gathered the support of and mobilized millions across the globe online and offline but also sustained the interest of the people, tweeple and media with his determination with the Lokpal bill.

3. 60^th Earth Hour

It is the one of the globally imported campaigns that was the most widespread and saw a successful implementation in India. Five million Indians in public gatherings, residential houses, hotels, government centres and commercial centres switched off their lights in 65 cities. Of course, this is one of the most heavily budgeted and endorsed campaign by a non profit in India involving celebrity endorsement, advertisement, Government lobbying etc. But that doesn’t take the credit away from the simplicity of the act, its ‘virality’ potential, its lack of frills and controversial angle as well as the direct impact it has in making the common man feel like a part of ‘change’ i.e. in raising awareness towards global warming.

4. Gangtok Earthquake

While the Central Government shows its lag towards its concern towards North Eastern states, tweeple are quick to not only report calamities and disasters in the North East but also to do their bit in ‘retweeting’ helpline numbers and other important information in times of emergencies.

5. Bell Bajao

Domestic violence was once upon a time considered as “someone else’s private affair” until this campaign changed the popular perception, especially for many men and boys. The campaign not only moved many to come out of the closet of abuse on their blog but also inspired tweeple to live report incidents of violence in their neighbourhood or even their gym!

6. Onir’s I AM

What do you do if you’re a filmmaker with a script that deals with difficult and controversial subject matters like homosexuality, child sexual abuse and Kashmiri Pandits; and don’t intend on approaching Salman Khan for the lead role or including an item number in your film? You ask the audience to pitch in! I Am, co produced by Onir and Sanjay Suri of ‘My Brother Nikhil’, crowd sourced the funds from more than 400 individuals across 35 cities around the world through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. The co-owners of the product have been listed here http://www.iamthefilms.com/owners/co-owners.html

7. Keenan Santos & Reuben Fernandez

On October 20^th, 2011 Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandez were heavily injured in Andheri West, Mumbai following an attack by a group of over dozen men. Keenan died a few hours post the incident while Reuben struggled for his life in Kokilaben hospital. Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with messages of shock and support with 100 people showing up to donate blood for Reuben in response to a tweet that was passed around. Mainstream media did not pick it up in their editorials or discussions until Reuben passed away 8 days later. Along with Zero Tolerance Campaign, they collected over a lakh signatures online and on a piece of cloth that was presented to Home Minister R.R. Patil to take stronger measures against sexual harassment as well as the public outcry online has led to the case getting fast tracked in court.

8. When Twitter saved a woman from potentially ending her life

Twitter being a much more open & public space than Facebook where your tweet is likely to get scrambled into oblivion in the stream of hundreds per second, one could feel they could speak out uninhibitedly. A former twitterer, @jaishreemenon did so and caught the attention of many much to her surprise. Not only did people retweet but some of the concerned (@joydas) even reached her house with police and media crew (notably Barkha Dutt, @bdutt) to see if she was fine. The community got to her in time before she could have taken the drastic step. She, however, deleted her account, post the incident. (Source input: @Vidyut on Aamjanata blog)

9. Slutwalk

It is not possible to really gauge how serious Umang Sabharwal was when she created a Facebook event on doing a Slutwalk in a city like New Delhi, known as the ‘Rape Capital’ of the country. She had many supporters on her event page as much as the criticism from activists and journalists. Five hundred ‘slutwalkers’ showed up for the event on ground against the 30,000 who clicked as attendees on the event page. But in the face of threat by the Sangh Pariwar and despite limited permission by the Delhi Police, they successfully walked around Jantar Mantar on 30^th July, 2011.

10. @bloodaid

Started a year back by a young doctor and two young IT entrepreneurs, @bloodaid has helped over 400 patients by the undocumented records and Rahul Anand’s (one of the founders) hazy memory. Anand also cross checks if the request for blood donations are genuine and reports and monitors the tweets when the request has been met and the beneficiary is served. Now it’s not just the relatives and friends you can count on in an emergency! @bloodaid has appealed to our altruistic side, even if it’s just in an RT.

Do you think differently now or are you still looking for more loopholes within social media to create or incite social change? Regardless, the fact remains that social media is only one platform and not an all encompassing one.

Tell us what you think is the potential of social media in changing the way we think and live for a better and safer society and environment? Also, mention social media stories of change that you think deserves attention in this list and/or has not been covered by mainstream media.