This document discusses the role of social media and new media in the Arab uprisings of 2011. It notes that new media played a key role in connecting protest movements, mobilizing masses through communication of rally points, and reinforcing the spread of uprisings across countries. Social media helped create a transnational public sphere where ideas and causes could spread more quickly. However, social media may also reinforce clashes of narratives rather than promote dialogue by aggregating people of similar views. The document concludes that Arab youth are interconnected globally but with local focus, empowered by new media, yet social media can also exacerbate divisions if not used to promote transparency and accountability.

1. Ermete.mariani@planetnext.net
NEW MEDIA AND OLD REVOLUTIONS...
THE CHALLENGE OF THE WEB 2.0

2. ARAB YOUTH’S WEAPONS

3. INTERCONNECTED ARAB YOUTH
Arab Social Media Report,
by Dubai School of Government
http://www.dsg.ae/NEWSANDEVENTS/UpcomingEvents/ASMRHom
e.aspx

4. AN IMPORTANT PAST EXAMPLE

5. SELF CONFIDENCE: YES WE CAN!
January 2011

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

7. DOMINO EFFECT

8. TRANSNATIONAL PUBLIC SPHERE OF LAUGH
AND CHALLENGE (1)

9. TRANSNATIONAL PUBLIC SPHERE OF LAUGH
AND CHALLENGE (2)

10. REGIMES BELIEVED IN THE “FACEBOOK
REVOLUTIONS” >TUNISIA

11. REGIMES BELIEVED IN THE “FACEBOOK
REVOLUTIONS” >EGYPT

12. REGIMES BELIEVED IN THE “FACEBOOK
REVOLUTIONS” >SYRIA

13. BUT REVOLUTIONS WENT ON ANYWAY...
© Corinne Grassi, 2011

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”

15. ... ANYWAY
Or should Facebook be grateful to
the Arab uprisings?

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.


18. Ermete.mariani@planetnext.net
www.planetnext.net