The authors provide a qualitative framework that reviews the rise of social media , considers the Uprisings occurred in states regardless of their levels of Internet usage, with some states with high levels of Internet usage experiencing uprisings as well as states with low levels of Internet usage. In countries like Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen, rising action plans such as protests made up of thousands, have been organized through social media such Facebook and Twitter. This is due, in part to social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube to communicate messages amongst local participants as well as stimulate an international response. It was a spring forward for many countries in the Middle East such as Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and seventeen others, who fought against their oppressive government regimes to put the power back in the hands of the people. Web. They were able to spread their message not only amongst themselves, but to people all over the world which helped them gain support for their mission. The Arab Spring revolutions are unlike any other because the ones that succeeded were able to generate a democracy after decades of corrupt government rule through an entirely grassroots social movement. Net Delusion : The Dark Side of Internet Freedom. 12 Jan. 2014. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. People such as Clay Shirky want people to continue to utilize social media to their advantage because it helps the outside world know what is happening in their countries and helps spread the message about protests and meetings. Web. This paper will analyze the effects that social media had on the Arab Spring to gain better insight on whether the role was as powerful as it seemed from the perspectives of critics and proponents of each side of the debate. It also sparked greater physical participation in the revolution because going to the “streets was the only way to find out what was happening” (pITPI). In Arab countries, many activists who played crucial roles in the Arab Spring used social networking as a key tool in expressing their thoughts concerning unjust acts committed by the government. Pangaea Global Connections: Student Views on Globalization, The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring. Web. With social media, there is no central leader, so networks “have real difficulty reaching consensus and setting goals” which makes them “prone to conflict and error.” Thus, from Gladwell’s point of view, the social media aspect of revolutions is ineffective. New York: Public Affairs, 2012. [3][5], Social media's impact varied per country. YouTube) to coordinate and attract international support. Morozov, Evgeny. Committee to Protect Journalists, 21 May 2012. It is important to understand that new platforms of social media didn’t cause Arab Spring but played a role of communication that aids the revolutions in the long run. However, when the revolution spread to Libya, it became violent and Dictator Muammar Gaddafi was only defeated because of the UN Security Resolution 1973 which called for a “no fly zone” over Libya and for the use of “all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian populated areas” (UN Res). Skeptics believe that social media makes people lazy, makes them believe that they are doing something productive for a cause when they are in fact not. In this article, he discusses how social media has altered the way that people form their political opinions. This act of protest caused the revolution to spread to the masses. Download PDF: The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring. 2011.1. His second argument is that in order for activism to be successful, there needs to be a hierarchy that is organized and has rules and procedures controlled by a central authority. A study done by the Dubai School of Government titled the Arab Social Media Report which analyzes the impact of social media in the Arab region. 16 Feb. 2014. 09/20/2011 02:59 pm ET Updated Dec 06, 2017 Nine months have now passed since the tumultuous beginnings of the Arab Spring burst forth in the streets of Tunisia. [2] As such some analysts have used this to argue that the Arab Spring truly began as a youth revolution meant to "promote a collective identity" and "mobilize people online and offline".[13]. Mourtada, Racha, Fadi Salem, and Dubai School of Government. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas but has backgrounds from all over the world including Tanzania, India, and French Arabia, which fuel her passion for travel and adventure. “Social Media, Political Change, and Human Rights.” Boston College International & Comparative Law Review 35.1 (2012): 145-88. According to some experts, the initial excitement over the role of social media in political processes in the countries of the Maghreb and the Middle East has diminished. The revolutions in these two countries were non-violent. Social media did and still does play an important role in the Arab revolutions. [3] As a result of their research many academics have come to the conclusion that social media played a critical role in "mobilization, empowerment, shaping opinions, and influencing change" during the Arab Spring. Joseph, Sarah. [3] During the Arab Spring the number of users of social networks, especially Facebook, rose dramatically in most Arab countries, particularly in those where political uprising took place, with the exception of Libya, which at the time had low Internet access preventing people from doing so. Current. The Arab Spring was just that, a spring. High-risk activism means that activists have something to lose by rebelling and they have strong ties with each other. Social networks have broken the psychological barrier of fear by helping many to connect and share information. The term “slacktivism” (Morozov) describes the idea that people using social media are lazy, but it has been proven, especially with authoritarian governments, that using social media can be dangerous and life threatening. The difficulty with a hierarchical system “is that it breaks easily and catastrophically.” This is because if a leader makes a mistake, or “is somehow neutralized,” the movement suffers a major setback, whereas a network is difficult to shut down or break. They also believe that it is difficult to get organized without a clear leader. “Syria Civil War: UN to Stop Updating Syria Death Toll.” Time. For example, Twitter was rampant with information about Iran’s unsuccessful uprising in 2009, but that event was surpassed by Michael Jackson’s death (Morozov). [2] In Egypt, and particularly in Cairo, mosques were one of the main platforms to coordinate protests. Social networks were not the only instruments available for rebels to communicate their efforts, with protesters in countries with limited internet access, such as Yemen and Libya, using electronic media devices like cell phones, emails, and video clips (e.g. Social Media and the Arab Spring: Politics Comes First Gadi Wolfsfeld 1, Elad Segev2, and Tamir Sheafer3 Abstract The goal of this article is to place the role that social media plays in collective action within a more general theoretical structure, using the events of the Arab Spring as a case study. Some people argue that social media did not play a crucial role in the Arab Spring, but rather, a support role. He says, “Boycotts and sit-ins and nonviolent confrontations” are high-risk strategies that leave little room for error or conflict (Gladwell). Through social networking sites, Arab Spring activists have not only gained the power to overthrow powerful dictatorship, but also helped Arab civilians become aware of the underground communities that exist and are made up of their brothers, and others willing to listen to their stories. Almost 85% of Egyptians and 86% of Tunisians said that they used it to spread awareness, spread information, or organize actions (see Figure 1). The role of social media in the "Arab Spring", a revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests in the Middle East and North Africa between 2010 and 2012, remains a highly debated subject. The graph shows that activity reached approximately the same levels after the blackout was over (See Figure 2). Being capable of sharing an immense amount of uncensored and accurate information throughout social networking sites has contributed to the cause of many Arab Spring activists. [8] However, these measures did not prevent the overthrowing of the Egyptian and Tunisian governments, which some argue proves that Social Medias role in the Arab Spring is overplayed. Download PDF: The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring The Role of Social Media in the Arab Spring.