Using Social Media in the Middle East - Essay Example

?Using social media in Middle East Unit Introduction The article, “How Egyptian and Tunisian Youth Hacked the Arab Spring”, by Pollock talks about street revolutions which overthrew the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt in February and January. There were only two Tunisians secretly known as Waterman and Foetus, as well as their organization known as Takriz, which performed a large and unremarkable role. Pollock explains that there were other groups such as unionists, teachers, lawyers, online dissidents and human activists that helped in removal of Tunisia’s President Zine Eline Abidine after 23 years of power(13). However, the main audience was alienated by the youth on the street, in terms of often spilled, North Africa and lifeblood. The rebellion of the youth spread far beyond Egypt and Tunisia in order to enflame the whole region. The combination of offline and online strategies and other additional tactics that the organization used helped in bringing political revolution. Pollock explains that Takriz began as a tiny cyber which proclaimed itself as self-described tank (15 -24). It had thousands of networks that cooperated with journalists and as a result guarded their anonymity. Since Takriz was an elusive word, it came from street slang, which means frustration due to anger or breaking balls. Additionally, Foetus is an MBA consultant of technology who knows many languages and plays off his friend Waterman who is gifted in writing. Ben Ali’s removal made the group believe that Tunisia’s government is cut from the same cloth as the predecessor who was corrupt. It also talks about the situation being similar in Egypt, whereby the Egypt activists are cautious of the supreme council where the Armed Forces replaced Mubarak Hosni. North Africa and Middle East are elderly regimes who are unwilling to leave power as well as unable to satisfy the economic and political demands of the bulge demographic youth. The region’s population is under 30, and the unemployment of the youth stands at 20 percentage. The media technology also brought about the political revolution in the region because of the extreme use of Face book, you tube, cell phones, and satellite TV among others. Pollock notes out that Takriz also made internet access affordable as well as freedom of speech to the organizers (25-32). Internet was the only option for them in 1998, because Ben Ali is said to have taken control of the other media. However, Takriz technology officer was a skilled hacker, and since he could not afford Tunisia’s phone and internet cost, turned to internet as well as for safety, since he would meet the other organizers online without any identification. The government blocked Takriz website and many others. TuneZine was arrested and tortured. He was sent to the worst prison in the region, 120 people in one room with only one bathroom and no water. When he got sick, instead of calling a doctor they beat him and gave him no food. In 2003, he was released but died because of a heart attack at the age of 37 and Ben Ali imposed a curfew, in which journalists and activists were arrested, speeches and documents censored as well as blocked websites. The Tunisian’s protests turned to a political revolution because the videos captured events that were extremely depressing as well as highly influential. One such video was about Kasserine’s hospital that was in chaos, and desperate to treat the wounded and an image of a dead young man who had his brains spilt out. This was critical and use of this video made the second political revolution. It was posted on face book, YouTube and any other influential sites (Pollock, 32-44). Such acts are against the human right law. The use social media is significant in bringing out political revolution in any country. This is because social media reaches a good number of people both regionally and internationally. For example, when Takriz sent the video to Aljazeera, it reached people globally, a population face book cannot reach; the rich, older, and educated among others. Pollock claims that Aljazeera is flexible when it comes to political revolution (32-44). Additionally, it adds that without the streets, there is no political revolution, and when face book is added, it becomes a real potential. Technology plays a great role in revolution. This is because, before social media, everyone was alone, isolated and oppressed. However, through social media, it has created channels and bridges for people to air out their views as well as reminds them that there are other people with same ideas as them. Therefore, social media brings people together, and helps them to work collectively. Social media was effectively bringing about “the Arab Spring, by posting online on how to deceive the security forces and use of social sites like Face Book and You Tube to share ideas with other people. It also helped in facilitating communication, by helping give them a quick sense of how others agreed with certain view points as well as helped in rallying and spreading messages to people. There would have been no revolutions if social media was not used to spread messages as well share ideas (Vries 23-45). Without the use of twitter, face book and internet, no revolution could have taken place in Tunisia and Egypt. The social media was responsible for getting people on the streets to protest. People were angry because of unemployment, corruption, high food prices among others. Egypt and Tunisia had suffered from deep legitimation for years and therefore, social media helped create a tipping point in Tunisia, and its success inspired the Egyptians who had been preparing a strategy for resistance for months. Protest leaders from both countries applied the American manual activist, “From Dictatorship to Democracy” which is a conceptual framework. Additionally, coverage from Aljazeera was very important and the Protestants considered it as another social media network. (Andrzejczyk 24-26). Most importantly, social media through technologies helped mobilize masses in Tunisia and Egypt in order to depose the old regimes and build new democratic politics. Citizen from Egypt were able to communicate with protesters from Egypt as well as watch the events from Aljazeera. Additionally, they would read from Face book, YouTube and other online sites and as a result mobilize masses in terms of sharing ideas on how they should apply their techniques. For example, Facebook and following the news made the people aware as well as encouraged each other in addition to giving them hope. The protesters would speak on what happened and as a result something comes out of the discussions (Article 19, United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights). Revolution rocked Tunisia and Egypt and used social media as a political tool to mobilize masses. Protesters would trade information through pictures, and videos in order to pass the message. Additionally, the role of social media transformed its citizen’s relationships into becoming a political phenomenon. Despite their leader blocking the internet and other social networks, protesters were dedicated into spreading their messages to each other as well as letting the world know what was happening in their country. In Egypt and Tunisia, social media was used in forming grounds in order to protest as well as provide information to journalists in terms of dangerous areas as well as offered advice to those who were involved with clashes on street. To ad to this, social media allowed people around the world to know what was happening in addition to creating a new meaning, in terms of the whole world is watching. Conclusion In summary, social media is the use of latest and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive discussion. Additionally, it is the use of internet applications that build technological and ideological foundations and allows the exchange and creation of ideas. As much as they are used for social interaction, they have proved useful in political revolution especially in Tunisia and Egypt where protesters used social media to mobilize masses. In his book, Polick Pg 16-23, agrees that the use of offline and online strategies and other additional tactics that the organization used helped in bringing political revolution. It also helped in facilitating communication, by helping give them a quick sense of how others agreed with certain view points as well as helped in rallying and spreading messages to people. There would have been no revolutions if social media was not used to spread messages as well share ideas. Without the use of twitter, face book and internet, no revolution could have occurred in Tunisia and Egypt. The social media was responsible for getting people on the streets to protest, in addition to revolution taking place in both countries. Works Cited Andrzejczyk.C. The article of “the role of social media in the Arab spring”,2004, Pg (24-26).Print Friedman.J( 2011),Wisdom on social capital, human interaction, civic engagement and community through research, news stories and life.Pg, (8-15). Retrieved from: http://english.aljazeera.net/  Pollock.J (2011) Street book, “How Egyptian and Tunisian Youth Hacked the Arab Spring Technology Review, Pg (15-44). Print United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, particularly Article 19. Article 19; Secondary Source Al-Jazeera (English) Vries.I (2004), Egypt, social media and determinism Article, Pg (23-45) Print. Retrieved from: http://www.newmediastudies.nl/magazine/egypt-social-media-and-determinism Read More