Social media is relatively young compared to mainstream media with regard to its origin. However, its popularity has made it a major tool used to exchange views and ideas globally. The ease and wide reach of social media makes it an obliging platform for people to discuss and consider various issues. Claims or warrants made on this medium are quickly generalized due to the manner in which shared statements are posted and viewed by all. The speed of communication through this medium is also an added advantage.
With the advent of internet, especially broadband in India, the entire Indian category has started using internet in their daily life. People have realized that the communication is growing at a rapid rate through internet. Therefore, Internet nowadays forms a significant part of everybody’s life. Recently, lot of research and statistics has proved that a more effective and cheaper online communication technique is social media.
This is not a saying, nor a quote by a famous personality or an influential person. It is a thought expressed by most of the people around the globe who are a part of the worldwide digital society, called the ‘online social network’. This study will try to highlight how the concept of online Social Networking Sites has affected some of the crucial aspects in human life, and most prominently, how it consumed ‘space’ has in the real world.
1.1 The Internet and Communication:
The Internet has revolutionized the way world communicates. It has helped in building the bridge between communication, computers and the world. The invention of telegraph, telephone, radio and computer set the stage for this extraordinary blend of capabilities. The Internet which defines multi-tasking to the world in a lot of respects is itself capable of serious multi-tasking. It is capable of worldwide broadcasting of information, dissemination of information and storage, collaboration and interaction between individuals and organizations through their computers, e-commerce and trade etc., all at the same time, regardless of the geographic location.
According to The Internet Society, the Internet today is a widespread information infrastructure, the initial prototype of what is often called the ‘National (or Global or Galactic) Information Infrastructure’. Its history is complex and involves many aspects - technological, organizational, and community. Moreover, its influence reaches not only to the technical fields of computer communications but throughout society as we move toward increasing use of online tools to accomplish electronic commerce, information acquisition, and community operations.[1]
1.2 Social Networking:
Social Networking Sites has been a subject of interest for various researchers and scholars especially in the period from 2000-2010. Also, it is interesting to know that it has been of interest even for its mere users who get addicted to the habit of digital social networking, across the globe in various countries and continents. The difference is only its time of arrival. In some countries it is old and established, whereas in some, it is new and promising and in some others, it is yet a distant dream.
These Social Networking Sites have gained popularity for one simple reason, the ability to share with others information about yourself, your interests, your hobbies, your thoughts and feelings or anything you choose. It provides you a centre stage to showcase (almost) all about you. These can quickly be reciprocated by others in your network and by you through messages, comments, instant messaging applications, photos, games, and group interaction.
‘Social Networking' Sites (social networks) offer people new and varied ways to communicate via the Internet, whether through their computer or mobile phone. These sites allow people to easily and simply create their own online page or profile and to construct and display an online network of contacts, often called ‘friends'. Users are able to build a network of connections that they can display as a list of friends. Nearly all sites allow users to post photos, video and often music on their profiles and share them with others.[2]
1.3 Media and Society:
Media is considered as the mirror of the society. It is through the media, people are aware about the daily happenings and changes in the world. The delivery of news, sharing of ideas and the expression of opinions is regularly done through media. As long as one person is able to connect to the internet and express their view about a situation or simply about an idea, then the information that individual will want to share, will get out into the world. The spreading of an idea, or of news occurring somewhere in the world can no longer be completely blocked by anything.
When we say social media it includes the different mediums such as
· Blogging
· RSS
· Social Networking
· Chat Rooms
· Podcasts
· Video Sharing
· Photo Sharing
· Message Boards
So the society uses these mediums to share their views, to update their knowledge about everything, and also to get connected to the people from different parts of the world. It has become a part and parcel of their daily life. Social media has changed the way the society works maybe by the way it thinks, maybe in sharing of an idea or in the communication of news. When we say media, the different mediums like print, broadcast and new media come into the media category. These mediums perform their works well as they have to update to the society about everything. Media is a place where the publication occurs and social network takes place when the sharing occurs. Social media has almost become a regular part of our daily life. It has both positive and negative aspects which may lead to the change in usage of the social mediums.
1.4 Social Networking: The Fastest Growing Trend on the Internet:
It has been amazing to see the growth of ‘Social Networking’ over the last few years. Almost every ‘Netizen’ is today exposed to and a user of at least one Social Networking service. It is that space where people can develop networks of friends and associates (whether only on line, in real life, or both) and create, share or provide information on similar interests, tastes, lifestyles and other information.
Facebook started as a site for previous College Associates to remain in contact with one another during and after they had finished College. YouTube is another Social Networking Site and not just a repository for uploading various types of videos (as presumed by many) since it provides space for comments and feedback.
Some sites are popular by type of category they use, whereas others are popular by region (like UK and Europe, Africa, etc), but they often have a USP of their own. The only way to know if a Social Network is suitable or apt for one is to research some of these sites on the Internet, ask friends, family or work colleagues who may have already used one (or more) of these sites. Popular , including MySpace and Facebook, are changing the human fabric of the Internet and have the potential to pay off big for investors, but -- given their youthful user base -- they are unusually vulnerable to the next 'new new' thing. As quickly as users flock to one trendy Internet site, they can just as quickly move on to another, with no advance warning, according to Wharton faculty and Internet analysts.
Many-a-times Social Networking Sites have been observed and appreciated for reporting events like fires, storms, and even floods in other countries that have occurred locally in that vicinity instantly, usually even hours before these events are made aware by the media.
1.5 Social Media in Egypt:
Egypt had blocked Facebook and Twitter after the Social Networking Sites were used in the rally demonstrators for extraordinary protests in Cairo against the dictatorship. The president Hosni Mubarak was asked to wind up his authoritarian rule which was started in 1981. Now the ruling party can go according to the law and democracy, which is the major recommendation of the people from many years. This is a remarkable achievement by social media in setting up a revolution through its online activities and brought a change in the history of Egypt. The revolution has shown how social networks get perceived and has an impact on any kind of social movements.
Egyptian uprising was started based on the developments in Tunisia, which was set up with the effective use of Social Networking Sites in curbing the activities of the authoritarian government and their rule. With Egypt’s mass upraising having achieved its main goal of pushing President Hosni Mubarak from power, it has also set a best example of proving the positive and effective usage of social media in bringing the change in the country.
Anti-government activists used the popular Social Networking Site Facebook to plan the protests. They gathered the support of 90,000 users who willingly agreed to be a part of the protests against the ruling party which is considered as the authoritarian government. As soon as there was a wide spread of the usage of the popular Social Networking Site against the authoritarian government, Twitter was blocked in order to prevent videos, photos and other details from the protests from being broadcasted. Soon this was followed by blocking of Facebook. But, by then the popularity of the protest took over by the mass to the street and everybody openly agitated against the authoritarian rule of the corrupt government. were used as a powerful medium to eradicate the tyranny which prevailed in the country. Social Networking is a very good way to get connected to the family, friends and relatives, but Egyptian uprising has proved that it can be also used in social upgradation and social demonstration.
1.6 Coverage by the Newspapers:
Newspapers are the important medium of communication. They are the regularly scheduled publications containing news from different part of the world on various events and current happenings. Newspapers have played a very important role in covering the issue on the role of in Egyptian Uprising. It is the duty of the media to cover the issues and inform people on the activities of the society. The listed newspapers have covered the stories on regular basis on the Role of Social Networking Sites in Egyptian Uprising.
1.7 The Hindu:
The Hindu is an Indian English daily newspaper that started publishing in the year 1878 as a weekly, led by G. Subramanian Aiyer along with five other members of Triplicane. Literary Society, it became a daily edition in 1889. The newspaper has its major base in terms of circulation in South India and is headquarters at Chennai.
According to the Indian Readership Survey 2010 it became the third most-widely read English newspaper in India with a circulation of 1.46 million copies.[3]
In the 1987 and 88, The Hindu’s expose on Bofors arms deal that broke out a major allegation of corruption involving Swedish arms manufacturing company along with Government of India made headlines and embarrassment to the then Congress government led by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. However there are several tags that the newspaper carries along with it being India’s daily read, according to the World press magazine, The Joint director of The Hindu in 2003 N. Murli claimed that The Hindu is politically left leaning newspaper.
1.8 The Times of India:
The Times of India is a daily Indian English newspaper owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd that is owned by the Sahu Jain family in India.
According to the Indian Readership Survey in 2010, The Times of India newspaper is regarded as the most widely read English newspaper in India with about 70.35 lakhs readership. [4]
The Times of India was established in Mumbai on November 3, 1838, and then known as The Bombay Times and Journal of Commerce. Initially the newspaper operated as a weekly edition followed by a bi-weekly format, it was only in 1850 that it transformed into a daily and in 1861 re-named itself as The Times of India. The founder of the newspaper, Robert Knight was also its first editor, the Times group came under prominence for it severe criticisms against the British administration after the first war of Indian Independence. The Times of India, today is published by the media group Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd along with seven other groups in different languages.
1.9 The New Indian Express:
The New Indian Express is an Indian English-language broadsheet daily newspaper published by the Express Publications. It was started in the year 1932 as The Indian Express by Chennai-based P Varadharajulu Naidu. After the death of the then owner Ramnath Goenka, the Goenka family split the group into two separate companies in 1991. In 1998, the northern editions, headquartered in Mumbai, retained and renamed Indian Express as The Indian Express, while the southern editions became The New Indian Express. Today, the two newspapers and the two companies are separate entities. The newspaper is well-known for its intrepid and anti-establishment tone.
1.10 Deccan Herald:
The Deccan Herald is a leading English-language daily newspaper distributed in Karnataka. It is published by the Printers (Mysore) Private Limited and has a number of editions in Bangalore, Hubli, Mysore, Mangalore and Gulbarga. The Deccan Herald began its work in 1948. Its sister publications are the Prajavani Kannada daily newspaper, the weekly magazine Sudha, and the monthly magazine Mayura, all of which are published in Kannada. The head office of the Deccan Herald is on MG Road, Bangalore. 
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