6. NEW MEDIA PLAYED A KEY ROLE IN
Connectingthe movement with the outside world
notwithstanding the censorship and occasional
shutdowns >international coverage
Mobilisingmasses: rally points and manifestation
were ALSO set and communicated on-line
Reinforcing the contagiousnessof the uprisings
Common background (cultural and linguistic)
Common problems and frustration: unemployment, lack
of freedom of expression and difficulties in doing
business
Transnational public sphere: social media and
Internet at large make ideas spread more quickly
and people feel the ownership of causes
14. NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES...
Clash of narratives not dialogues:
“Through the way social media operate, by aggregating
people with the same values and the same opinions,
they end up reinforcing differences rather than building
bridges. As a result, social media can create obstacles
when it comes to negotiating solutions andfinding
common ground between different opinions." Alec J.
Ross, the advisor of Hillary Clinton on “network
diplomacy”
16. LESSONS LEARNED
Arab youths are:
Vocal and determined in asking for inclusion,
participation and freedom
Interconnected (also through the Web 2.0)
Globalised but with local focus
The role of new media:
They have empowered Arab youths
Aggregate people who share values, views and a
common destiny
BUT they can also reinforce the clash of narratives
and confusion rather than promoting dialogue
17. CHALLENGES
Web 2.0 is based on horizontal communications
and Users Generated Contents therefore it might
play a key role in promoting:
Transparency: the era of duality and secrets is
almost over, we should make an effort in enforcing
an ethics of transparency for preventing a climate of
“rumours” and “misleading information”.
Accountability: making governments and decisions
makers accountable is the greatest goal for
contemporary societies intimately linked with
meritocracy.