week 11 #mena #arabspring: the social network revolutions

The case study provided in the lecture of this week is about Arab Spring, Arabians summed up through Facebook and Twittter and to exchange information.   Some claim that Facebook and Twitter boost the revolution, whereas it is just a media platform. Personally, the reason why it is an issue is because the vital role of media played in society.  Comparing with traditional media, audience are more active engaged within activities of new media. As Ted mentioned that audience do not have any power within traditional media. From that point, audience within new media is more creative and active rather than passive and controlled.  Ted mentioned that what was a permanent periphery can now become a new centre. In the other words, new media gives civilians power to distribute information and used them for democracy.

Networked computer allow social networks to expand and grow in ways that were previously unanticipated, social networking, as the phrase is being used in industry and in popular culture today. Also it allowed us focus on the creation and growth of online social networks which allows users to interact. (Coyle & Vaughn, 2008)I am also interested in the reading of this week. The same issue been discussed by Morozov, he portrays that internet is democracy, and also the internet can be and effective tool for political change when used by grassroots organisation. Personally, I agree with him. Whereas, the network revolution would not be happen in some countries, such as China. Because China has the great Firewall, it can filter anything. In a sense, internet boost democracy in some countries, mass media especially new media grant people power to against dictatorship.

Reference:

Coyle C L, & Vaughn H, 2008, “Social Networking: Communication Revolution or Evolution?”, Bell Labs Technical Journal, Vol 13, No 2, accessed 09/10/2011,  http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bltj.20298/pdf

Morozov E 2011, “Facebook and Twitter are just places revolutionaries go”, The Guardian, 7 March, accessed 16/10/2011, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/07/facebook-twitter-revolutionaries-cyber-utopians