‘People's revolution' possible because of social media


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SALT LAKE CITY -- Social media has given political activism within restrictive governments a new face.

After social media drove the leaderless revolt in Egypt, it's being called the people's revolution. It couldn't have happened in Egypt even a few years ago.

"In 2008 it wasn't widespread. People weren't using Facebook in a widespread way," said Casey Poe, University of Utah Study Abroad advisor. He says this is the first revolution of its kind this century in Egypt, and it's mainly because of the rise in new technology and social media like Twitter and Facebook.

"All you have to do is have a flip camera or a tape recorder or an SMS text messaging device. You can blog straight from the Tahrir Square in Cairo," he said.

Many young people are following the political movement in Egypt, like University of Utah Junior Sydney Bagrou.

"Once other countries see that maybe if Egypt is successful in Mubarak resigning, I feel like other countries will follow in suit if they're unhappy with an authoritarian government that they're in, and they will also try to protest," Bagrou said.

It used to be said that the pen is mightier than the sword, but with all the recent activity in Tunisia and Egypt, is the cell phone becoming the new power behind political action?

Poe thinks this is just the beginning of similar political activism for developing countries.

"If those people only need 20 cents to go to an internet cafe and post their thoughts on Facebook or Twitter or post photo or video, how can you contain that many voices when they don't need a big platform?" Poe said. "They don't need a giant media outlet to voice their concerns. It's very hard to stop. Impossible, in fact."

The downside to using social media in Egypt is the government still has power to monitor online activities. Foreign Affairs experts say don't be surprised if we continue to see more revolutions through social medial in other countries in the Middle East.

E-mail: niyamba@ksl.com

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