Not that social

For a Gen-Y journo like myself, there has been missing something every day at my desk in the Deccan Herald newsroom.

That something is social media.

Despite being excellent tools for journalists, Twitter, Facebook and similar sites are blocked on the computer system here because they fall into the restricted category of social networking.

Without Twitter, in particular, I have been left with a feeling akin to a crack addict jonesing for their next hit. I'm constantly scanning my open tabs to check for new tweets and, even after two weeks going cold turkey at work, my eyes still cannot help themselves searching for that fix.

In New Zealand, I open Twitter when I get to work in the morning and it remains active until I leave at night.

I find it an invaluable source for monitoring breaking news, finding stories and gauging the mood of the public on certain issues. (And, just quietly, it can occasionally be useful for the purposes of procrastination.)

Facebook, meanwhile, is unmatched when it comes to searching for people and, though I utilise it less frequently, I know journalists in New Zealand who wouldn't be without it.

The reporters I have spoken to at the Deccan Herald are not exactly thrilled about the websites being blocked, but they often simply circumvent the regulations by accessing the sites on their smart phones.

Without one of those toys, I've had to make do with other methods to sample the sentiment of the people. The most-commented stories on the Deccan Herald website are a good place to start, with rational argument replacing the petty abuse found in other forums on the net.

Today, a story about how urinating in public may soon invite a Rs 100 (NZ$2.20) fine in Bangalore started a lively discussion about the need for further construction of toilets in the area.

Healthy debate is all well and good, but sometimes you find yourself yearning for the snide remarks and sarcasm of social media. Another well-read story, about how a controversial spiritual leader may join an Indian reality show, would undoubtedly elicit Twitter gold given the combustible mix of reality television and polarising celebrities.

Self-styled godman Swami Nithyananda has been accused by an actress of raping her more than 40 times, while some of his other disciples have also made allegations of sexual harassment. That's not going to stop him appearing on 'Bigg Boss 6', a Big Brother-type show in which celebrities live together for three months in a house cut off from the outside world.

What could possibly go wrong? I bet Twitter would have a fair idea.