Over the past few months in India on the social media, discussions, arguments, analysis and counter analysis, trolling and the emergence of countless internet memes have revolved around the general elections, the Indian Premier league and the Football World Cup, with occasional detours to rabid discussions on the latest season of the Game of Thrones . After the elections and a new Prime Minister, the IPL and the conclusion of the fourth season of GOT, World cup took up much of the online space. The Brazil-Germany game emerging as one of the most talked about sporting event. Wimbledon also fought for eyeballs and managed to grab a few on the day of the finals. With the Germans taking the World Cup home, one wonders what is there to talk and argue about on social media. It seems like a good time to take a break.
Writer Shalini Nair is thrilled with the German win. She says, “I used to watch almost all matches alone. With Twitter and Facebook, it felt like I was watching the game with a group of friends. Even dull passages were so much fun to watch, thanks to the hilarious tweets and memes that used to be up on social media sites in no time. I remember seeing the meme that had the Christ the Redeemer statue holding his hands in despair, after the first semi-final where Germany beat Brazil 7-1.” She adds, “I do not think I will take a break yet. The India-England test series will generate much excitement on the online forums. Twitter feels very much like it did when it all began, funny, irreverent, with people engaging in meaningful talk rather than just attacking each other on opposing political views.”
IT professional Samarth Jagadish says: “Post the elections, Twitter and Facebook have again become online spaces where you can connect with friends and family. It is no longer full of meaningless political attacks and random trolling. Analysis seems to have replaced hyperbole as far as politics is concerned. Sport, on the other hand is fun to follow online. You tend to learn much more about the game, can read links that talk about strategy and game plan and talk to other people who share a love for the game. Since India does not play, the discussions are by and large clean and often fun.”
He adds, “Social media is changing every year. When one event closes, another begins. I do not think I can take a break from it, even for a week. My interest in much of the TV series and movies I watch and the books I read can be traced back to Twitter and Facebook."
Media professional Jayadevan PK has a contrarian view. “Now that the World Cup and elections are over, I am looking towards a calmer timeline. I think that there will less of noise and more of actual discussion and sharing of information. If you are not keen on sports, American television and politics, social media was not the best place to be with thousands of people clogging timelines, just to make what they think heard in the din.”
Many active social media users are amazed at people who tweet about every kick or shot of the game. “I do not understand when they get time to watch the game, since they keep talking about it on social media sites! I am happy that these guys will also vanish now. I think I would become more active on social media sites now,” says marketing professional Vineet Shukla.
Social media expert and digital media professional, Tinu Cherian says, “I do not think that taking a break will work for me. In today’s highly-connected world, shutting yourself off means disconnecting from real people that you have been interacting on a daily basis. Social Media is now a part of life. As far as paucity of topics goes, there will be new topics and issues that gets coverage and creates a flutter in the internet.”
