Sweep me up We are all God's unwanted children, so let's bitch and whine about our feelings.

Never have the disenfranchised, voiceless and forgotten had so much power to influence the world around them without the use of big pointy sticks or big-fuck-off-guns. Through social networking and viral mediums anyone, for the better or worse, can have their say, make their stand and change the world. From making the number 1 in the music charts to bringing back a chocolate bar right the way to giving a bedroom artist a record deal, the masses behind their computer screens can make it happen with the click of a mouse, welcome to the Youtube generation.

It’s a scary prospect for those of you who have ventured onto places like Youtube or Myspace and seen the endless parade of lobotomised chimps spouting their 2 cents worth in places they have no right to be, but for others a revolution from behind the keyboard, where you demand what you want and you bloody get it – fast. The world has truly shrunk; no one under the age of 18 will think anything of being able to talk with several different people from several different countries at the same time, wirelessly, sharing videos of cats playing pianos. It’s the most natural thing in the world, and don’t try to tell us otherwise.

Now with this comes a myriad of pros and cons but I’m just here to a celebrate a few of the best parts of our internet driven culture, our twittering, facebooking bebo of a Myspace, where Google reigns supreme and you can tell your life to fuck off! For us, the power of the ballot box had dissipated and the so called elite no longer hold our respect, not like our favourite Vlogger or celebrity on twitter.

Make or break – this power is in our hands, a Facebook group can build someone up to avalon before cruelly sweeping the pedestal from beneath their feet, all before you can say ‘send me another farmville invite and I won’t be responsible for my actions’. Facebook groups commonly do one of three things; 1.) Unites people in a common interest/idea 2.) Unites people in changing something 3.) Unites people in spreading misinformation and blatant lies. There are many worthy and notable examples of each type of group but I want to bring just one or two to your attention, either because they were ‘epic’ or because they were just downright alarming.

‘RIP Neil Bucannon’ – Now this would have been a very touching and sincere group…had Neil actually been dead. Yes, there was one fatal flaw in the set up of this group, the man for whom it was paying respects to was still alive and well, and rather startled to hear he’d died. The much loved Art attack presenter’s ‘death’ had stirred up so much sympathy and attracted so many members Neil’s agent decided to step in and put an end to the whole charade. Neil was apparently very touched by the overwhelming support but perhaps next time it’d be better to wait until he’s actually dead.

‘Rage against the machine for Christmas Number 1’ – Well, who’d have thunk it? They came, they saw, they knocked the X factor off its stage-managed, vote-rigging perch and it was all down to the good people off Facebook, and more specifically Tracy and Jon Morter, currently wallowing in their success at promoting the Rage comeback to the number 1 spot, against all odds. I’m sure this one be the last society altering group to grace our lives, how long until a general election is decided by Facebook? Surely Chuck Norris would be our Prime Minister come next May if that were the case.

Now Facebook groups aren’t the only tool for those of us who sit in swivel chairs playing online solitaire all day have of making things happen. Something as simple as a ‘subscribe’ button can change people’s lives. Even as I write this thousands, if not millions of aspiring artists ply their trade in front of their webcams hoping that they can build up a fan base online and attract the attention of a music producer or talent headhunter. And for those good enough, that will most likely happen, you see Youtube and websites like it are meritocracies, those who are good enough will be acknowledged and their talent will be rewarded. Unlike mainstream artists who rely on huge record labels plastering their faces on everything from bus stops to the back of chewing gum packets, ensuring their records play several thousand times a day on every radio station, arranging for them to be interviewed by Jonathan Ross and Graeme Norton, Youtube artists rely on people enjoying their music, and passing it onto a friend via word of mouth or email, or other web savvy techniques. They need people to rate their video highly for it to get any limelight, they need people to hit the right buttons and make the right noises for them to become successful. This removes the middle man, artists are playing directly to their audiences and their audiences are giving them instantaneous feedback. To me it’s a wonderful system and long may it continue, let the cream rise to the top and the chaff fade away into obscurity, it’s the natural order.

So there we have it, a generation standing up to oppression, calling for equality and fairness, fighting for the causes they believe in, making their opinions heard all from the comfort of their own bedrooms. My generation isn’t apathetic, they’re not lethargic or uninterested, they’re just programmed a slightly different way, inclined to speak up in a series of ‘lol’s and ‘Fml’s rather than a picket sign and a fluorescent hat and if you don’t like it, twitter me your complaint like a normal person. Peace out.