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SMS for social change?

Many mobile users send social and political messages. But do they make an impact?

The text message on the mobile read, "This election, if you think that none of the candidates deserves your vote, choose 49(O). It is like saying `none of the above'. If more than 33 per cent choose this option, we will have a re-election."

Ann, who works with an MNC, went to the booth without questioning the validity of the message. "I was disappointed. The option was available only in select constituencies. I wish the sender had added that bit." An increasing number of mobile phone users are passing social and political text messages. Some messages inform such as the ones on the petrol price hike (These even try an analysis in one message), some push an agenda on issues that are in the news such as reservation and others urge action like asking the recipient to donate blood immediately. Some messages claim that the service provider will pay a person-in-need some money every time a message is forwarded.

Is text messaging a revolution we hold in the palm of our hand? In the city, the "SMS activists" are willing to press a few buttons to support a cause. They are most willing to voice an opinion or build an agenda. But when they have to take action outside this virtual world, most are reluctant. Not many are keen on meeting strangers, no matter how immediate or worthwhile a cause. "I don't mind if I can help somebody in need by just forwarding messages," says Minna. "But I am afraid to meet or contact a stranger, for example, to donate blood."

In politics

Wait before you write them off. Elsewhere, they have pulled crowds and changed history. In 2001, text messages helped overthrow a government led by Joseph Estrada in the Philippines. He had corruption charges levelled against him and got away with it when 11 senators voted against opening the envelope that contained clinching evidence. When voices of dissent started being heard, text messaging came in handy. They helped coordinate a gathering 700,000 strong near the Peoples' Shrine in Manila. This incident introduces the book "Smart Mobs-The Next Social Revolution" by Howard Rheingold. The book, as the title suggests, discusses the possibility of using the device for social change.

Time Asia's article "U say U want a revolution" lists countries (Spain, China, Hong Kong, India and the Philippines) in which text messaging has brought about political change. In India, the article says, in the parliamentary campaign in April 2004, when the BJP targeted 30 million-odd mobile phone users with Atal Bihari Vajpayee's voice recorded message that resorted to a `feel-good' campaign, Congress opted for text messaging. Congress' message read: "Some only feel good. Others have good feelings for you". Political parties are reaching out to voters with text messaging in other countries too.

Social networking is the study of technology bringing people together, outside the virtual world, to act. S. Kuppuraj, a post-graduate student of engineering from Tamil Nadu, has been studying this phenomenon. So far, most students' attention has been focussed on the Holy Grail of social movements, the Internet. For the past few years, they have been debating the possibility of mobile phones and social change. But no revolutionary can trust a mobile phone, says Kuppuraj. The problem maker being the message centre. Next time you receive a message, scroll down beyond the name of the sender's number and you will see an equally long number. This belongs to the message centre. The centre is nothing but a computer that receives your messages and sends them to the recipient. From here, the Men in Black can download all the messages sent to and fro and track the sending number and the receiving number. They can have a sieve for any word. On the Net, however, encryption works. Internet also scores in terms of memory and the available screen size. There are also issues of privacy. You need to be connected to receive calls and messages unlike on the Net. Being connected, however, also means being accessible to unsolicited messages, even well-meant ones. Though SMS-activism is catching on in the city, it still is a prerogative of the moneyed. In our country, as of now, most people would use it for the primary purpose of talking, says Kuppuraj. So the messages and the colour graphs on the television screens reflect only the mindset of a minority. For debates, not everyone is equipped.

Many mobile users do not bother to verify the authenticity of messages. For example, Airtel has no scheme that pays anyone any money for forwarding any message. So says the official spokesperson. But who checks? We forward the message in the hope of helping someone. The spokesperson also said that in the best of their knowledge such schemes cannot be implemented. A more serious fall out of this blind faith is that anti-socials can further their agenda based on half-truths or blatant lies.

ASHA S. MENON

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