Over the past several years, popular social networking websites including Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, have significantly changed the way people communicate.
Social Media Plays Pivotal Role
While social media is often utilized for communication and entertainment purposes, social media is also playing a pivotal role in the dissemination of news and information. Social media provided up-to-the-minute updates on various disasters around the world including the Haitian earthquake and BP Oil Spill.
With a simple click of a button, people from all over the world are now able to obtain real-time information and images from people on the scene. Besides providing news and information to the masses, social media has also been instrumental in disaster relief efforts as well.
Social media is also impacting the way people around the world coordinate, organize and protest. The online movement not only helps organize political gatherings, but also provides information to journalists on the ground.
Social Media and the Egyptian Crisis
As tens of thousands gather in the streets demanding the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, at least 40 people have reportedly died. Reports of police firing on crowds, violations of the government-ordered curfew and mass looting continue. As widespread protests continue and the death toll continues to rise, thousands are trying to flee the country as the unrest continues.
Bypassing Social Media Blocks
While the Egyptian government’s alleged response to the unrest appears to be shutting down or limiting access to social networking sites, mobile phones and the Internet across the country, users are reportedly finding other alternatives to stay connected. Egyptians are reportedly using landlines, fax machines, ham radios, proxy sites, Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and third-party apps to send and receive information.
Watch the Egyptian Protests Live Online
Social media organizations are providing up-to-the-minute updates as the crisis unfolds.
- Al-Jazeera has a live stream of the Egyptian crisis, available in English. Timelines and disturbing photos are also available.
- Raw footage of the Egyptian uprising is being uploaded on YouTube’s CitizenTube channel.
- Various Facebook pages dedicated to the Egyptian uprising have also been created. Thousands of followers have joined various Facebook groups calling for peaceful anti-government demonstrations to protest corruption, high cost of living, social injustice and high unemployment.
- Twitter is also providing minute-by-minute updates on the Egyptian revolution. Jan25 Voices is tweeting real-time messages to Egyptians “behind the blocked Internet.”
As political unrest grows in various parts of the world including Tunisia and Egypt, social media is playing a significant role in a call to action and the rise of democracy.
Sources:
CNN. “Egypt’s Government Resigns as Thousands Take to the Street Again.” January 29, 2011.
Al-Jazeera. “Timeline: Egypt unrest.” January 28, 2011.
Jace Shoemaker-Galloway - +JaceShoemaker-Galloway is more than passionate about online safety awareness. She has devoted and dedicated over five years to Internet ...
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