Gone are the days when people used to follow the leaders with their hands folded and eyes blindfolded. The public was awed by the politicians as if they were some supreme beings with superhuman powers only to be worshipped from the stands while they waved from their lofty pedestals. That was the time of traditional media when the masses heard only what the leaders wanted them to. It was the age when it was expected of the son to take over the reins from the father, for the mind of the common man could fathom only two meals per day, leave alone having a louder voice for his own upliftment.
The emergence of social media has ushered in a new era. The average person now has a forum where she may express her ideas and sentiments without worrying about punishment. Regardless of their caste or faith, she may choose to follow the leaders she loves and avoid the ones she doesn’t. The son may now select his own career without regard to what society expects him to accomplish because he is no longer constrained by tradition to succeed his father. He now has the ability to end the generations-long cycle of hunger and poverty that has afflicted his family. Social media’s capacity to unite individuals from all walks of life and forge a force that can be utilised for good is what gives it its strength. There are no boundaries to what this generation may do given its immense potential.
Social media has increased public awareness of individual rights and responsibilities. She is not willing to accept government propaganda and falsehoods anymore. A new generation of empowered people who are challenging authority and calling for change has emerged as a result of this transformation. Social media has given the general public a voice unlike anything else, and this is causing a significant shift in the way power is distributed globally.
The field of play has been levelled. Anyone who has a smartphone and access to the internet may participate in this new global order. People are no longer restricted by physical distances since the Internet has made them interconnected. The leaders are no longer revered by the youth; rather, they are held responsible for their actions. A leader is replaced if his performance falls short of expectations by someone else who might perform more effectively. People now have access to a number of alternative channels where they may obtain neutral news, thus the conventional media is no longer the only source of information. The average citizen now has a voice in how her nation is administered and what policies should be put into effect. She is aware that if she doesn’t like something, she can raise her voice and fight for change.”
With social media, anybody may have a forum to express their opinions without restraint or negative repercussions. Citizens now hold politicians to a higher standard of accountability than ever before. The average person has realised that dynasty politics are no longer prevalent and that their leader is not a god-like superhuman, nor a monarch. She can now set her sights on the pedestal and picture herself standing there someday.