The role of social networking sites has moved beyond staying in touch with old classmates and sharing photographs. They are swiftly becoming platforms to discuss serious issues, opening up a new and effective theatre of protest.

Before the Mumbai siege came to an end, a community called `In memory of all those who died in the 26th27th November Mumbai massacre' was created on Facebook.

In 24 hours, it found over 15,000 members, and a month later it has over 85,000 members from over 25 countries.

And it was started by a 14year-old.

Anyone can lead protests on the Internet. "I didn't expect so many to join," said Shubham Kanodia, a Class 9 student from Santacruz, Mumbai, who started the protest page.

"Many from Pakistan on the community have condemned the attacks and there are comments on apathy of politicians," he said.

A similar community on Facebook is called `I'm a fan of the great hero who hit Bush with his shoes in Baghdad'. It has 1,04,000 members already. Sura Alani from Iraq, who created the community, said she had not originally started it as a serious endeavour. "We have Arab and American youth not only discussing Iraq but also making an effort to understand each other," said Alani. "Social networking websites are the place where questions can be raised without any fear of consequences." Comments made on both the communities are representative of how these websites are helping people reach out to each other. "America is still full of amazing people. Please don't see us as our President [Bush]. The only way we'll ever eternally love each other is if we learn more about each other," wrote Marcus Acosta from the United States.

Another user, Claire Singleton from Sheffield, wrote:

"I live in the UK and my boyfriend is from Baghdad. What we see on TV in UK is totally different from the reality of what Bush and Blaire have done to Iraq." The fact that people on these Internet sites don't know each other helps them be more open.

"Social network sites may be more appropriate than newsgroups, listservs, blogs and chat rooms for some political discussions as social network profiles give you plenty of information on the user you are communicating with...," said Nicole Elli son, a media and information studies expert at Michigan State University in the US.

There are some who feel that the Net is the most appropriate space for future activism since it is convenient and peaceful.