Hi, visibility is benchmark of
publishing success and this message is part of an aggressive online campaign
for the promotion and visibility of my two books [1] Political Internet and
[2] Intimate Speakers among core reading public in online space.
I would be grateful if you are able
to help me forward, share, tweet, post, or tag this message or parts of this
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Or anyone should according to you
benefit these books if they work broadly on anything related to social media,
Internet, society, politics, cyber sexuality, Internet pornography, intimacies,
women and online misogyny, introverts, underprivileged people, Diaspora,
cyberspace, Internet in education, International relations, digital politics,
social media and state, public sphere, civil society, social capital,
contentious politics and so on.
[1]. Political Internet: State and Politics in the Age of
Social Media, (Routledge 2017)
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[2]. Intimate Speakers: Why Introverted and Socially Ostracized
Citizens Use Social Media, (Fingerprint!
2017).
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Biju P R
Author, Teacher, Blogger
Assistant Professor of Political
Science
Government Brennen College
Thalassery
Kerala, India
bijugayu@gmail.com (primary)
1. Political Internet: State and Politics in the Age of Social Media,
(Routledge 2017), Amazon https://www.amazon.in/
2. Intimate Speakers: Why Introverted and Socially Ostracized Citizens Use Social Media, (Fingerprint! 2017)
Amazon: http://www.amazon.in/dp/
Expatriates build boding capital in social media
Profound changes are taking place in home country with
the unparalleled contributions of expatriates. Among these
contributions, one dimension need not be overlooked. Indians living abroad have
found a new medium for interacting with their home country, friends and family.
Social media, the town square of the world, has begun to gain influence over the chemistry of expatriates bonding with
their country.
Many surveys of expatriates around the world display that social media has immense significance in the lives of expatriates living abroad.
There
are over one crore People of Indian Origin, and a similar number of
non-resident Indians (as on May 2012, available at http://moia.gov.in). Now we have huge expatriate base and
obviously, they have rich resources. Saudi Arabia is home to large number of
expatriate Indians, especially citizens from Kerala, and most of them go in
search of better jobs and opportunities. However, the loss of close family and
friendship ties is undeniable. So is the bonding and strong-tie capital there
of. Thanks to technology, expatriates have now turned to modern communication tools
like Facebook, Skype and Twitter to be able to stay in touch with loved ones.
The most evident reason for the rise in the social
media trend is that it offers cheaper means of communication compared to
landlines and mobile phones. In addition, the technology is instant which keeps
people connected with the world around the clock. Overseas Indians are not so
reluctant to leave their homelands anymore as technology has made the
transition much easier.
Gaining
Popularity
A
Facebook video recently uploaded by a Gulf-based Kerala user got whopping
comments, ‘Likes’ and shares among a bunch of fellow national strangers both
within and outside the country following a bus accident causing tragic deaths
and human casualties in Malappuram district in Kerala. The content is an
emotional speech by a home-sick national requesting bus driver in the State to
be more vigilant at road and be safe while driving! However, the comment
threads indicate how emotional he is about the happenings in the State. A
sweeping look at his Facebook Wall indicates that all what he updated pertains
to happenings in the home State!
More
interestingly, YouTube sensation,
Chandralekha, a poor housewife in Kerala, recently became a popular play back
singer, when non-resident Indians copiously commented and shared a song
uploaded to YouTube. She got more than ten Lac likes on her song. The content
of the video was her singing from the walls of her kitchen in a hut like house,
and someone uploaded the video clip from mobile to YouTube! Someone from Gulf
region commented on her song; describing her as a jewel in the dustbin! Many
followed, many shared, and finally she became a YouTube sensation in the State!
Of
course, a fleeting look at the Facebook pages, blogs and social media badges of
fifth estate news websites give us ample evidence that a new social house has
already born in fifth esate of India where Diaspora are more emotional about
the home country!
Alakode Vishengal (News
About Alakkode), A Facebook page pertaining to a remote area of Kerala is
popular among Diaspora of the region. The page updates about almost everything
to the region from birth to death. A new way of alone together happens among
nationals within and outside the country in the fifth e-state. Social media
platforms such as Facebook cater to this new spirit of social bond.Cherupuzha Times, a webpage steered by natives of rural area in Kerala, is a dedicated website for the cause of Cherupuzha area. The website updates local news pertaining to the region and has large audience basis among natives as well as people living abroad.
Although initial data showed that while email is still the most popular way for expatriates to stay in touch with far-off friends and family, an increasing number of people are finding more modern communication tools like Twitter and Skype indispensable for keeping up with the news from home.
Facebook is popular for people abroad to stay connected with family and friends at home. Google Plus and YouTube create a new social circle for the expatriates. Without Skype life could have become almost ironical, opines an Australia settled Keralite via Gmail.
Being connected is quite incredible. It helps families stay in touch, kids develop relationships with grandparents and friends stay updated, but it is not without some loss. Yes, technology is bringing us closer together, but there is no chance that it could ever replace person-to-person, physical relationships.
A number of blogs and websites has already developed to the cause of expatriates living aboard (see http://www.expatsblog.com/, a webpage that gives information and guide to lives of expatriates all over the world).
The government use of social media often lends a hand for expatriates and people abroad. In times of conflicts and humanitarian crisis, government using social media has often provided a useful channel for expatriates to connect with relatives at home country.
The Ministry of External Affairs in 2011 had been updating relevant information about the crisis in Libya via social media accounts. The Twitter profile helped Indians trapped in Libya to return home safely. It helped family and officials to reach out to expatriates who have caught in Libya. Based on the information posted on Twitter by their family members, platforms helped a two way communication in times of crisis in which access is almost difficult in a foreign country.
Twitter and Facebook are representing voices of expatriate Indians abroad and their concerns on home country. What is even more remarkable is that these online platforms are not only in use for simple pontification and acerbic commentary. These tools, in fact, are being used to replace staid development paradigms.
The Twitter and YouTube network has revolutionised political discourse and rewritten the rules of development dialogue in domestic society. Expatriates and Diaspora have been influencing policy outcomes in domestic society by their active participation in social media platforms that lead discussion on parent country. Therefore, social media paved way for building strong bonding capital. This could be more helpful for government to utilize the potential resources and rich experiences of expatriates for development and building strong bonds.
Cashing In
Politicians such as Shashi Tharoor and Narendra Modi have been expanding overseas follower basis. They were fervently under immediate attention of expatriates. In Fact, by strategy they represent Indian voices abroad among the expatriates. Perhaps their targeted and strategic use of platforms helps them cast a political billboard image abroad via Internet platforms. Most Internet posts of Modi and Shashi Throor have frequent Likes, shares and replies among the expatriate community, confirms a bird’s eye view of their Facebook Time lines and tweets.In short, social media is enhancing strong bonding capital with expatriates. Governments, family, friends, and expatriates are stakeholders in this process. However, serious attention needs to be given to the expatriate dimension of social media at policy level, which at present is conspicuous by its absence. We need to tap the potential of platforms more vigorously for bringing more changes via digital media platforms in the days ahead. Expatriates will, of course benefit from social media, so are the family and Government.
Now, it is time to think of an expatriate social media policy for the government. Exclusive government platforms dedicated for being in connection with people abroad becomes a necessity. Hope that government will soon realise the potential of the platforms for effecting and reaching out to expatriates in a better way.
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