Through out time people have always relied on technological innovation as a gateway to social change; but how much importance do we put on technological advances when the operator remains the same: the human race.
December, 2010 marked the beginning of what became known as the Arab Spring, a series of demonstrations and protests throughout the Middle East. The Egyptian revolution sparked in the advent of the Tunisian revolution to overthrow leader Hosni Mubarak. Social media has been crowned the champion of these movements; as many protestors organized rallies throughout the region using mediums like Facebook and Twitter. How much of an impact can communication technology have on social movements? And is this necessarily a new trend? According to the Financial Times Mark Zuckerburg, the creator or Facebook commented on “overall trend” of greater sharing of information between friends and family online was “an extremely powerful thing” that was “fundamentally rewiring the world from the ground up”.
The sentiment of communications having an impact on population is not a new notion according to Daya Thussu, in “International Communication: Continuity and Change”. The use of radio during the Cold War is an example of the power of communication tools have on populations. In Egypt, British used the “Voice of Britain” as a tool for anti-Egyptian propaganda, and were countered by President Gamaal Nasser’s “Voice of Arabs” which promoted Pan- Arab ideology. Both of the radio programs pushed their own politically motivated agenda, the consumer’s only participation was through the decision to listen to the station. Thussu goes on to describe how the “The Cairo-based 'Voice of the Arabs' was an international service, which in the 1950s and 1960s became the 'pulpit of revolution', notably in the leftist revolution in Iraq in 1958.” [i]Communication technology has served as a tool of revolutions throughout history, but instead of just consuming information, social media creates an egalitarian approach to communication. The user-driven content allows individuals to direct their own political message—as examples show throughout the Middle East. The interactivity of the internet allows for mass dialogue between creators and consumers, unfathomable in the days of radio. Yet one cannot use communication tools alone as the raison d'être for revolutions.
On January 28, 2010 under the order of President Hosni Mubarak, the Internet was shut down. For a population that was mobilizing protests through the use of Facebook and Twitter, the intent was clear—to cut off this tool in an effort to thwart the revolution. Although this did not stop the protest, in fact it created an additional incentive to protest; without this essential communication technology the protests raged on—unbowed. Communication technology have undoubtedly aided social movements throughout history, although the will and vigor of the people has always been the driving force.
[i] Thussu, Daya. International Communication: Continuity and Change . Hodder Arnold Publication, 2000.
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