The Power of Web 2.0

The far reaching power of web 2.0 in aiding information dissemination, information sharing, networking, and alliance formation cannot be underestimated globally, especially in the area of citizens’ journalism.

Web 2.0 applications are just like the cement that holds people together irrespective of their cultural background, religious belief, race, and social status or geographical locations as they relate on issues and share information that affect them as individuals or groups.

The exciting aspect of this platform is that one can send messages or information from the comfort of her bedroom in Nigeria to someone in Nepal or Germany and get instant feedback. One can also form a community of people with like minds to connect, share experiences, air their views on topical issues that affect them and work towards proffering solutions on the problems they are faced with.

For me what excite me most about the web 2.0 was that the Nigerian café was formed on online (the PulseWire community) and some of us came together from different parts of the country (Nigeria) even from outside country, because Fatima Waziri, a Nigerian who is based outside the country was around late last year (2010). We had discussions and Busayo who emerged one of the 2009 Voices of our Future Correspondent equally shared her experiences with us.

Another exciting aspect of web 2.0 unlike the traditional media is that I did not go through any formal training for me to voice out or share experience with others. This means that just like me, more and more people are using the social media to express themselves on many issues, and it translates to more people having access to information.

The solutions that the web 2.0 brought to the global women’s empowerment movement:
The web 2.0 has indeed come with many solutions for the empowerment of women across the globe: Women are now using the web 2.0 tools like twitter, facebook and blog to voice out against the different forms of discrimination, abuses and violence meted out on them (even though it is just a small fraction of women that can access the internet).
Women with common interest therefore, come together to form alliances and movements to advocate for policies that would put an end to all forms of violations of their right, women organizations like AWID, PulseWire and FEMIN just to mention a few.

Women also connect with one another for the advancement of vulnerable women and girls who are living in hard-to-reach communities and the less privileged. Through these movements their capacities are built and enhanced to advocate and inspire others just like Busayo’s capacity had been built and she is now running a Women Inspiration Centre where she step down her skills to other women.

These tools can be empowering for me to access information, voice out, advocate for myself and others on discrimination against women. I could use my blog to make money through advertisement on the blog when there is heavy traffic on the blog, and then advertisers would come looking for me.