Today, a new method of expression has emerged. Blogs. The internet savvy youth has found blogs as a new mode of expression. Freedom of expression has surely been brought forward into web 2.0 and Twitter is next.
WHEN WE think of the 26/11 attacks, we are reminded of the angst and outrage among the youth. Our freedom of expression was once hampered by a number of factors. We could not speak out as we did not know how to speak out.
But today, a new method of expression has emerged. Blogs. The internet savvy youth has found blogs as a new mode of expression. Freedom of expression has surely been brought forward into web 2.0 and Twitter is next.
After 26/11, there has been a flood of blogs in the techno sphere, the emergence of which proves how aware and angry the youth is. Youngsters find it easy to express themselves through blogs and get a global audience for their voice. And as it is said, the youth is always innovative.
Talking about innovation, Youth Ki Awaaz was a blog started in March 2008 by Anshul Tewari as a way to vent his thoughts on the current happenings of the world. What started out as a blog is a website now, with over a hundred registered writers. The blog has turned out to be a platform for the youth to express themselves. In the words of the founder, "Youth Ki Awaaz is an online journalism outfit based on new media and dedicated towards highlighting the voice of the youth. As Mahatma Gandhi once said "A small group of determined and like-minded people can change the course of history", we believe that the youth has the power to create a new environment of peaceful co-existence."
Youth Ki Awaaz contains campaigns, opinions, views on news, photos and videos by the youth. It also has a forum by the name of HOPE to facilitate uninterrupted discussions between the youth. HOPE is also India's first ever social network dedicated to the cause of social change and development.
Another such platform is The Viewspaper. Started by Shiv Bhaskar Dravid, The Viewspaper is currently India's largest youth newspaper on the internet. A similar concept, The Viewspaper has a large youth base which starts from Delhi University and reaches out to a global audience.
The Viewspaper also runs a forum - THINK.Such blogs can easily be created at blogger.com or wordpress.com and are free of cost.Both these initiatives are now running as full time companies with a corporate setup and hierarchy. This is what the youth is capable of.