The use of social networking in #MENA and #arabspring is, in effect, what we were talking about in the first couple of weeks with the declaration of internet dependence by Barlow:
“We have no elected government, nor are we likely to have one, so I address you with no greater authority than that with which liberty itself always speaks.”
The internet, and moreover social networks know no bias, they are tools for users to do just that, use as they wish. Whether it be to declare we are in a relationship with our cat or to overthrow a government, or to highlight that the %99 are not happy with the 1% we can do that.
There could be an adverse affect of this, mobilising the mob to do bad things, like the London riots. Although they were mostly communicating through the Blackberry chat, (unable to be infiltrated by outside forces) they were notified and inspired by social media. Although it started out as a protest about England’s unhappiness with their current law enforcement situation it became an anarchists playground. Social media did not allow this to be contained.
On the other hand, most of the time you don’t it to be contained. You want it to be as widespread as possible to get the most coverage as possible. Social media can do that.
Barlow, J.P. (1996) A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace [URL: https://projects.eff.org/~barlow/Declaration-Final.html]
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