The Power...

Disclaimer: This post reflects personal opinons and not a representation of the general audience. Any reference may not be supported by facts and could be purely assumptions. This is afterall my free space to express.
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Of the internet and social media for politics.

We have seen in GE 2011 that those who know how to use the social media reaching out to netizens, have high influences and discussability space.

Information spread like wildfire within a matter of a few hours (even minutes), reaching far and wide, even to citizens residing outside of the country. Their opinons are also heard from miles far away from home.

I have to say, I have never been personally very involved in the politics of our nation (maybe one point in time, at the age younger than Nicole Seah). Partly because our leading party has been doing a good job, keeping the country economically and politically stable. So, I can sleep at night and focus my energy on other matters in life. Because they keep the country safe, so I am not afraid of being shot at night. At least, these occurences are few and far.

My worries revolve around whether my children will become strawberries or maybe even grapes. This seems largely a society issue, less of the governmental issue. There are countries that are thriving and yet the society do not indulge in materialism. Yet their children grow up strong, independent, responsible and sensible. This is, another topic to discuss regarding the society, which is also at the heart of the Asian culture. I shall bring this to another post, one day.

I have also thought that our people are apathetic but yet are vocal about their thoughts (compliants). Yet throughout this election, we have seen comments, feedbacks, opinions and supports for the opposing parties dominating social media and the net. This proved that they aren't just a bunch of apathetic complian kings/queens as perceived. They want to be heard and actions to be taken. They don't want to be patronised anymore.

It has been melodramatic over the world wide web and iphone applicaiton and I watched, read and studied in amusement. It has been politically entertaining.

While the mainstream media tend to lean on one side of the news, (although trying to take a neutral standpoint), the social media and net provide an alternative, uncontrolled avenue for people to air their views and at the same time, a space to influence one another's perspectives.

I am awed not so much by the drama and some dirty tactics (politics is a dirty game anyway - not my cuppa), but by the rate and speed, and power of the net and the social media.

Who needs complete freedom of the media when the net is such an excellent alternative?

Freeing the media will probably make being a reporter more interesting than before. If that's the case, could I consider joining the media and fulfill my childhood dream of becoming a reporter? How does covering a story like the Watergate Scandal sound to the politicians who said we should free the media?

Salute the creation of the WWW and the social media.