A new study by Facebook about the information we share proves that this is the way we have been operating, and are likely to do so for a long time. It shows that most of the information we are exposed to - and which we spread - comes from people with totally different perspectives.

It is why issues in countries we may never visit can strike a chord, or why we make the shopping decisions we do. An example is a social networking game called Angry Brides,a newly launched spin-off of the popularAngry Birds. In this game, a woman gets to throw shoes, pots and pans at her future bridegroom.

Fortunately for my better half, that does not mean I am a husband-batterer, but after reading about it, I had to try it, too. Apart from a bit of fun, the game, which already has 300000 fans, is a stance against dowries paid by brides in India.

It was created by online marriage bureau Shaadi.com as a protest against the archaic, banned practice of paying a bridegroom's family to take the financial burden of a woman off her father's hands.

Despite being banned in India half a century ago, like anything contraband, it can still be found - in the form of more than 8000 "dowry deaths" in 2009 and 2010. Women either commit suicide, or baby girls are killed, to avoid the expensive dowry.

A light-hearted spin is just what was needed to bring the practice to the attention of the world.

The game sees three grooms - a pilot, builder and doctor - duck stilettos, frying pans, tomatoes and other missiles. Each groom has a price tag, starting at R300000. Every time the player hits a groom, his value decreases and money is added to the player's Anti-Dowry Fund, which is posted to their Facebook page.

It probably won't change the world, but it will grab attention, as it did mine. Little voices add up, which is why, last year, Time magazine named faceless, genderless Protester its person of the year. So don't consider it a waste of time if you have a go at Angry Brides. Grab a shoe and visit facebook.com/shaadicom to play.

GEEK WEEK

Last week Wikipedia, Google and WordPress blacked out portions of their pages in protest against two US bills, the Stop Online Piracy Act (Sopa) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (Pipa). They sound good, but actually threaten freedom of speech online because of tight restrictions and the wide access they will give corporates to shut down blogs, search engines and even social media that infringe copyright.

Apart from targeting actual pirates, the Acts mean that websites such as Facebook or WordPress can be shut down if a blogger shares a link to an interesting video, or Facebookers tag a favourite song, movie or product.

COOL TO HAVE

Pet lovers will understand why it is worth spending about R5000 on a pet-tracking system. A GPS on Fido's collar allows you to see if he has wandered out of your "geofence" and send you a notification. Pet trackers are all the rage internationally but not widely available in South Africa yet. Soon however, we will be able to say goodbye to "Lost Pet" posters forever.

• Shanthini is @ShantzN on Twitter