 |
| Source: TechCentral |
In today’s time, most video footages are mostly about street protests, which are widely spread in the streets of all regions especially in Middle East. While riots, demonstrator’s are mostly young men whom to be seen with their camera phones documenting the scenario. These video footages that have been shot during the protest will be uploaded to social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and other sites such Arab TV satellite, Al-Jazeera. In fact, Google-owned YouTube highlighted several video clips such as Libya from a user with the name ‘enoughgaddafi’.
On the other hand in Bahrain and Libya, graphic pictures and video footages of violent attack by the authorities towards the group of protesters had further spread the anger widely in the streets. As what been stated by Micah SIfry, co-founder of politics and technology blog tech President (cited by TechCentral 2011), that mobile phone coverage in Middle East is far higher than internet penetration. Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Moamer Kadhafi have taken these threats into account seriously and they have eliminated their own people from the web.
Most parties have stated that social media plays a vital role in all these events. This has proven by Wael Ghonim, the Google executive and cyberactivist (cited by TechCentral 2011) who stated that ‘social media played a crucial role in the events that led to Mubarak’s ouster after three decades of iron fisted rule.
On the other hand in Bahrain and Libya, graphic pictures and video footages of violent attack by the authorities towards the group of protesters had further spread the anger widely in the streets. As what been stated by Micah SIfry, co-founder of politics and technology blog tech President (cited by TechCentral 2011), that mobile phone coverage in Middle East is far higher than internet penetration. Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak and Libya’s Moamer Kadhafi have taken these threats into account seriously and they have eliminated their own people from the web.
Most parties have stated that social media plays a vital role in all these events. This has proven by Wael Ghonim, the Google executive and cyberactivist (cited by TechCentral 2011) who stated that ‘social media played a crucial role in the events that led to Mubarak’s ouster after three decades of iron fisted rule.
 |
| Source:www.blog.journalistics.com |
 |
| Source:www.coated.com |
In my opinion I do agree to the above statement, social media do play an important role when comes to political issue. This is because it has the power to widely spread the news all over and influence the public. As what stated by Habermas 1964, ‘today newspapers and magazines, radio and television are the media of the public sphere’.
Due to emergence of the latest technology, Internet penetration has increased rapidly over the years in Middle East. Ward 2009 has also stated this, that there is a natural increase in use of the technologies; especially in the Arab World as Internet penetration rates continue to grow.
Social networking sites also play role in events in Middle East. Although social networking sites are meant to communicate each other but it also can be used as a tool to spread violence and hatred. According to Tay 2010, social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Blogs have facilitated creation and exchange of ideas so quickly and widely than the conventional media.
Thus with the help of the latest technology any pictures taken through cellphone are posted on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or any other sites which have the tendency to spread faster than any other medium. Besides that, social media allows people to express themselves and influence in the most immediate way. “By giving people this capability, they not only have the ability to share ideas, opinions and other contents, but also (if they wish) gain notoriety, and expand their influence”. (Pizano, 2010)
Due to emergence of the latest technology, Internet penetration has increased rapidly over the years in Middle East. Ward 2009 has also stated this, that there is a natural increase in use of the technologies; especially in the Arab World as Internet penetration rates continue to grow.
Social networking sites also play role in events in Middle East. Although social networking sites are meant to communicate each other but it also can be used as a tool to spread violence and hatred. According to Tay 2010, social networking tools like Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and Blogs have facilitated creation and exchange of ideas so quickly and widely than the conventional media.
 |
| Source: www.beritacrawlerz.com |
Thus with the help of the latest technology any pictures taken through cellphone are posted on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or any other sites which have the tendency to spread faster than any other medium. Besides that, social media allows people to express themselves and influence in the most immediate way. “By giving people this capability, they not only have the ability to share ideas, opinions and other contents, but also (if they wish) gain notoriety, and expand their influence”. (Pizano, 2010)
The depth, interactivity and immediacy of new media can make a lot of difference especially in society. As this combines with the people, they will be become more powerful and will be able to voice out their opinion more effectively. According to Habermas 1964, the expression "public opinion" refers to the tasks of criticism and control which a public body of citizens informally…formally as well- practices & the ruling structure organized in the form of a state.’
References
- Harbermas, J., Lennox,S., Lennox, F. 1974, The Public Sphere: An Encyclopedia Article (1964), no.3, pp. 49-55, viewed 11 June 2011, <http://www.sociol.unimi.it/docenti/barisione/documenti/File/2008-09/Habermas%20(1964)%20-%20The%20Public%20Sphere.pdf>
- Ward, W. 2009, Social media and the Gaza conflict, Arab Media & Society, viewed 11 June 2011, <http://www.arabmediasociety.com/?article=701>
- Tay, R. 2010, Impact of Social Media on Society, viewed 11 June 2010, <http://ezinearticles.com/?Impact-of-Social-Media-on-Society&id=5378885>
- Pizano, G. 2010, How Much Has Social Media Changed The Society? In Social Networking, viewed 11 June 2011, <http://www.shoutmeloud.com/how-much-has-social-media-changed-society.html>
- TechCentral 2011, Social media, cellphone video fuel Arab protest, viewed 11 June 2011, <http://techcentral.my/news/story.aspx?file=/2011/2/28/it_news/20110228100840&sec=IT_News>
Maheswari Ganga Gangaya
110070877
No comments:
Post a Comment