SOCIAL MEDIA AND

SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
 SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
 When citizens want to change the status quo

 The political, economic, or social system

 They organize and engage in social action

 Can be formal or informal

 Implemented in various forms and platforms

The Tunisian Revolution
Social Media allow activist to bypass traditional media

gatekeeping

 Very important in authoritarian countries

 Provides a platform for citizen-journalism

Social Media and

Movements
 - When they’re
accompanied by policy
change
- When there is offline
activism, advocacy and
movements
- Ex. Sit-ins, petitions,
strikes, marches…

When are Social

movements
successful?
  Ben Ali fled the
country on January
14, 2011
 International arrest
warrant
 Exiled in Saudi Arabic
 https://www.youtube.
com/watch?v=v221h
Hxd5qY

Outcome
THE EGYPTIAN
REVOLUTION
OUTCOME
Mubarak resigned, February 11, 2011.
Supreme council of Armed Forces took
over the country
Popular elections conducted in June 2012
Islamists gained power over the
presidency and the parliament.
The Egyptian army back in power in July
2013 after a coup d’etat led by El-Sisi
Popular elections conducted in 2014, El-
Sisi becomes the new president of Egypt
 1. What is the role of social media in revolutions?

2. Why does the outcome of social movements

differ in different places?

3. Does the technology affect people or do people

QUESTI affect technology? Which one shapes the

ONS other?
SOCIAL MEDIA
AND SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS
 ICT create new possibilities for citizens
 to connect and organize
 communicate
 For the world to bear witness
 Eliminate the feeling of isolation
 Create a support system
Local and international
SPRING ARAB OUTCOME
Tunisia: Ben Ali ousted, government overthrown, elections planned
and taken place, elected parliament and president, weakened
economy
Egypt: Mubarak ousted, government overthrown, elections planned
and taken place, new government and president overthrown. The
military took over and have established a dictatorship again.
Libya: Gaddafi killed after a civil war, foreign military intervened,
government overthrown, weakened economy and state of security,
militia rules established in several regions.
Yemen: Abdullah Salah stepped down, inability to establish a new
government, militia fighting over power
Syria: civil war
 QUESTIONS
1. What is the role of social media in revolutions?

2. Why does the outcome of social movements differ in different places?

3. Does the technology affect people or do people affect technology?

Which one shapes the other?

 “Technology does not determine society: it is society, and can only
be understood in social terms as a social practice. This means that the
uses of wireless communication are fundamentally shaped and
modified by people and organizations, on the basis of their interest,
values, habits, and projects.”

Manuel Castells (2007)