Why Social Networks are Particularly Popular in India?

A rapid increase in mobile phone penetration in emerging economies like India, coupled with an escalation of low-cost handsets, are accountable for propelling the growth of Indian social networking sites. India now has the second largest number of internet users in the world, racing past countries like China & Germany.

Top social networking sites, like Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook among others, had previously reported about their tremendous growth in India, and how their daily users shot up after the arrival of Jio in the mobile network market. Whatsapp, which was acquired by Facebook in early 2014, reported more than 200 mn daily active users in India. And the numbers are rising at an exponential rate.

Social networking sites have become the new talk of the town, and we can’t imagine our lives without it. And not just as a unit of communication, it has also become a popular notion to promote products, music events, or give out one’s opinion about something. But why social sites have become the new darling of the internet and why people are constantly chasing it?

Provides an Opportunity to Meet New People-

India is very much a closed society. This may not be particularly noticeable in the prominent Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai, but it is very much true for Tier 2 and 3 cities, and obviously rural areas. Internet penetration has improved noticeably throughout India. Almost every household has at least one Smartphone. To meet new people, all you need is a smartphone device, and an internet service provider to communicate with someone sitting outside India. Before the advent of top social networking sites, the chat room was the only medium for communication, where you had to sit before your laptop for hours to get your message across. And we all know how that was disrupted by Facebook.

LinkedIn made it easy for people to connect with like-minded individuals and empowered companies to look for the most desirable candidate through it. Social media brought people together, irrespective of distance!

Social Media Sites Are User-Friendly-

Social networking sites are user-friendly and host a number of attractive things which makes them a calm and vibrant place for a user to be at. These sites don’t require any hard-core IT knowledge and therefore can be navigated by the young teens as well. It also presents a better way to communicate with people, than the traditional methods, whilst giving them an environment of safety. The mobile versions are filled with vibrant colors which pose joyous vibes, thus, making these social networking sites even more user-friendly.

Gives an Opportunity to Make a Mark-

Perhaps the most important thing which is giving a push to the Indian social networking sites. The internet gives an opportunity to make a mark and build a unique identity in front of millions of people. Often addressed as influencers, these people are shaping the whole internet. Anyone can be an influencer if s/he sticks to their niche and concentrates on giving good content to the people. Not just this but it also gives an opportunity to earn through their passion.

Top social networking sites like YouTube, Instagram etc are giving a platform to people to showcase their talent and become a popular notion among masses.

They Are Free To Use-

This is one of the most important factors of why social networking sites have become a popular notion among India masses. Most of the top social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram, Google + are free, which has made them open to everybody. Don’t stress over on how they manage their operations despite being free as most of their revenue comes from advertising. The popular saying of ‘nothing comes free’ ended with the advent of India social networking sites.

A Popular Platform to Vent All Out-

Now you can vent all your frustration related to politics, job, or anything through the internet. Internet gave people the power to be anonymous and present their beliefs to the world. The genesis for creating this platform is to give a place where people feel free to vent their frustrations on numerous norms without the fear of getting judged. So, if you’re frustrated with office bickering, current political scenario or any other thing then the internet is the perfect place for you.

There are a number of threads on Reddit or anonymous profiles on Quora where you can vent your inhibitions without fearing anyone.

A Chance to Join a Group of Your Interest-

Nothing feels good than talking to someone who respects your opinion or shares a similar mindset. And the internet has given a perfect platform to find and join a similar group. Whether someone wants to talk about science, the latest movie theory, or why Jon Snow knows nothing, they can do it all on the internet. You can also make your own community on these social networking sites and share your thoughts and views with the world out there.

Websites like Quora has made it easy for people to ask questions with a connoisseur of that topic, and resolve all the problems.

It Helps Business to Reach Out-

Another key aspect that propelled the internet revolution in India is that it enables businesses to reach out to more people at a fraction of cost. Indian social networking sites have completely changed the whole landscape of the marketing in India and now more and more businesses are jumping on the bandwagon to promote their products through social media sites. Social media sites have developed a target based advertising model which helps a business to reach potential customers.

Top social networking sites like Facebook, Instagram etc access the data given by the users and help business to properly target them.

The internet has opened the floodgates around the world for better communication and is breaking all the boundaries. Many Indian social networking sites have enabled people the rights which they were ridden of in the past. And that’s why these social networking sites are becoming this popular in India.

Ways to Identify and Report Sexual Abuse

In the age of #MeToo and #Times Up, women across the world have supported each other to come out and bring to the eyes of the public the horrifying sexual abuse stories that went unseen for decades. Being vocal about such unfortunate events gave women the strength to not be afraid anymore.

While many are still yet to come out of the closet, the two said movements were the biggest first steps we could’ve taken to create awareness and eradicate ignorance.

But before we get to the awareness stage, there’s another very important topic that deserves equal public attention: Identification.

Sadly, the male chauvinism and misogyny ingrained in our society are the root causes of why we ignore the misbehavior of men in many situations that we shouldn’t. The phrase ‘men will be men’ is nothing but a forced rationalization for all the excuses that lead them to commit crimes. Which is why so many people fail to identify when they are being sexually abused by someone because other people mask it as ‘playful fun’ or ‘this is how it is supposed to be’? We, as a society, have not told our women, and our men alike, where to draw the line.

We are certainly not denying the idea that men don’t get abused. At least 1 in 6 men have experienced assault in their life, whether as a child or an adult. And why most men are not vocal about it can also be rooted back to the perfect masculine image that has been painted for men over the decades – ‘men don’t cry’.

It is even more difficult for children to speak up about their experiences because the young minds cannot differentiate between a loving touch and molestation. As per, National Statistics, 53% of children are abused. Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar reported the maximum number of cases.

It is time to rethink our sex education curriculum.

If you suspect that a child in your family or your friend’s family might be suffering from sexual abuse, here’s what you need to know:

Identifying Abuse in Children 

1. Distance: Children tend to step away from people who harm them. Pay attention to who the child feels reluctant to be with alone.
2. Sleep Problems: If a child is seeing nightmares or is having trouble sleeping, they might be afraid to confide in their adults regarding their problems. Recognize that.
3. Change: You may see changes in their everyday behavior, from the way they talk to their regular habits. They may be distant or may seem to have lost their focus.

Identifying Abuse in Adults

1. Anxiety: Sexually abused people may seem to be a lot more anxious than others. You may notice their sudden change in the way they see life. A sense of restlessness and physical insecurity may indulge them.
2. Depression: Emotional health may plunge either towards anxiety or depression. Notice if someone you know is showing signs of depression. They may avoid social interactions and become more and more distant.
3. Guilty Feelings: Notice if a friend starts blaming him/herself for every little mistake. They may keep iterating phrases like, ‘It is all my fault’. Talk to them and make them comfortable so that they can confide in you.

Preventing Abuse in Children

1. Sex Education: Teach your children about body parts. Tell them what each part is called and why they shouldn’t be shy in saying those names either. Teach them which parts should remain private and if someone tries to touch them there, they’re supposed to report.
2. Boundaries: Teach your children about body boundaries. Kids need to understand why it’s not okay to let someone touch them or touching someone else. Statistics show that most abuse cases start with the abuser asking the children to touch his parts.
3. Getting Out of Uncomfortable Situations: Teach your children how they can get out of situations where they might feel threatened. Give them specific phrases that can be used by them as excuses to get out.

Preventing Abuse in Adults

Top social media platforms empowered the #MeToo and #Times Up movements after a few women mustered up the courage to share their stories. As more and more stood up, a wave of confidence flowed throughout the world.

The many stories that were told also helped some people relate to them and, hence, recognize that they were suffering from assault too.

Sharing stories is important. When we confide in someone, it builds our confidence in other people and we know we are not alone. Listening to other people’s stories gives us relief that we are not the only ones going through these situations. Therefore, women should go out and own Indian social networking sites and share as many experiences as they can. While it is one way to share the frustration, it might be just what someone else needs to take the leap.

Expressing yourself is extremely important for a healthy mind. The more we express, the more we connect with people. And under unfortunate circumstances like these, the people around us become our support and help us get through tough times.