Social Media: Effects on Arab Spring
William Auriemma
WRD 104
An Inconsistent Relationship: Social Media and Political Activists
Since the “Arab Spring” movement of early 2011, many have sought to understand the role played by Internet users and Social media platforms in overturning oppressive and totalitarian regimes. With great thanks to Twitter, Tunisians usefully mobilized social change. Without Facebook, how could Egyptians possibly have accomplished such timely and coordinated public protests? Perspectives often range from the Internet’s potentially disruptive nature to those who believe social media is just as likely to support the authoritarian powers themselves. However, there is a more intrinsic conflict to be explored. The Arab Awakening, as some have referred to it, sheds light on the inconsistent relationship between social media policy and the goals and needs of modern social movements. Activists require certain prerequisites from social media sites such as anonymity and freedom to shed light on what is often a graphic topic. The contradiction lies within evolving missions, policies, and user agreements instituted by social media firms seeking greater monetization, which in turn negatively effects the goals set forth by activists who rely on these networks as a universal platform.
First, it is important to recognize core causes of the “Arab Spring” such as high unemployment, state repression, and widespread political injustices. Social media certainly played a strong role in the eventual revolutions that took place in the Spring of 2011, however much of the praise remains within the brave men and women of oppressed nations such as Egypt and Tunisia, for they put their own lives on the line in hopes of political freedom and a brighter tomorrow.
In it’s natural existence, social media is a self-regulated exchange of information. There is no legal requirement for any member to join, or, submit a plethora of personal information across the World Wide Web. Joining social media
WRD 104
An Inconsistent Relationship: Social Media and Political Activists
Since the “Arab Spring” movement of early 2011, many have sought to understand the role played by Internet users and Social media platforms in overturning oppressive and totalitarian regimes. With great thanks to Twitter, Tunisians usefully mobilized social change. Without Facebook, how could Egyptians possibly have accomplished such timely and coordinated public protests? Perspectives often range from the Internet’s potentially disruptive nature to those who believe social media is just as likely to support the authoritarian powers themselves. However, there is a more intrinsic conflict to be explored. The Arab Awakening, as some have referred to it, sheds light on the inconsistent relationship between social media policy and the goals and needs of modern social movements. Activists require certain prerequisites from social media sites such as anonymity and freedom to shed light on what is often a graphic topic. The contradiction lies within evolving missions, policies, and user agreements instituted by social media firms seeking greater monetization, which in turn negatively effects the goals set forth by activists who rely on these networks as a universal platform.
First, it is important to recognize core causes of the “Arab Spring” such as high unemployment, state repression, and widespread political injustices. Social media certainly played a strong role in the eventual revolutions that took place in the Spring of 2011, however much of the praise remains within the brave men and women of oppressed nations such as Egypt and Tunisia, for they put their own lives on the line in hopes of political freedom and a brighter tomorrow.
In it’s natural existence, social media is a self-regulated exchange of information. There is no legal requirement for any member to join, or, submit a plethora of personal information across the World Wide Web. Joining social media