Social media plays a crucial role in cyberactivism which has been defined by Howard as “the act of using the internet to advance a political cause that that is difficult to advance offline” (145). Facebook and Twitter are two of the most widely used forms of social media. Social activists have relied no both Facebook and Twitter in recent years to organize and execute demonstrations against egalitarian regimes in the Arab world. Besides, some of the academics, journalists, and political pundits have also embraced social media as a tool for social revolution. This essay will examine the role of social media in activism and revolution. Specifically, the essay will explore how social activists in the Arab world have relied on both Facebook and Twitter to mobilize protests against authoritarian regimes in the region. Using Castell’s network theory as an example, the essay will also demonstrate that social networks are an ideal tool for political activism.
Facebook and Twitter have gained immense popularity in the Arab world for enabling disgruntled citizens to plan and execute demonstrations. Social media allows users to hide their identity and this could be another reason why they have proven successful in social activism. One can also access both Facebook and Twitter cheaply. It is therefore easy to organize protests within a short time. According to Hintz (128) social media provides protesters with the perfect platform to deliver free speech. Social media has also been instrumental in shaping and reflecting public opinion against oppressive regimes.
Social media is an important tool in activism and revolution as it defies boundaries and gives the masses an alternative voice to conventional media outlets. In Egypt, cyber activists relied on social media as a tool for expressing their political views. Cyber activists used Facebook to inform others of the violations and abuses against civilians by the autocratic regime. Users could also organize and coordinate protests on Facebook (Khamis & Vaughn 2011). Consequently, the voices of disgruntled Egyptians were heard by both the national and international audience.
During the June 2009 disputed elections in Iran, angry protesters turned to Twitter to express their opposition to the election results in what was popularly referred to as the “Twitter revolution”. Protesters relied on Twitter as a platform to vent their anger. This is a clear demonstration of how Twitter can be used as a tool to pursue democracy. Morozov recognizes the power of Twitter in the pursuit of democracy when he writes that “democracy is just a tweet away” (37).
According to Castells’s network theory social networks are characterized by unique features that renders them as a useful tool for political activism (Castells 776). One of the key features of social networks is that they are egalitarian in nature and as such, users can choose to remain anonymous. Another feature of social networks is their ability to create weak user ties. This enables users to plan and execute political mobilization (Castells 779).
Social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter are an ideal platform for social activism. Cyber activists in Egypt and Iran have used social media to organize and execute protests and demonstrations against tyrannical regimes. Social media transcends political boundaries and enables users to share ideas, thoughts, and pictures in real time. The weak ties among social media users have also enabled strangers to share information and mobilize protests. The egalitarian nature of social networks coupled with their ability to create weak user ties makes them the ideal platform for social activism and revolution.
Works Cited
Castells, Manuel. “A network theory of power”. International Journal of Communication 5 (2011): 773–787. Print.
Hintz, Arne. “Challenging the digital gatekeepers: international policy initiatives for free expression”. Journal of Information Policy 2(2012): 128-150. Print.
Howard, Phillip. The Digital Origins of Dictatorship and Democracy: Information Technology and Political Islam. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print.
Khamis, Sahar and Katherine, Vaughn. “Cyberactivism in the Egyptian Revolution: How Civic Engagement and Citizen Journalism Tilted the Balance.” Arab Media & Society 13 (2011): 125. Print.
Morozov, Evgeny. The Net Delusion: What comes after Internet Utopia?London: Penguin Books, 2011. Print.