Anyone keeping an eye on Iran in the aftermath of the (rigged?) election could not help but be struck by the role that social media is playing in the unfolding events.
As Dan Rather, anchor and managing editor of HDNet’s ‘Dan Rather Reports’, has written: “When a regime exercises its power to repress, it first turns out the lights: If it can’t control the story, it tries to make the story disappear.”
The authorities in Iran would undoubtedly like to keep the unrest and riots erupting throughout the country off our news screens. Equally, they would like to keep the population as a whole in ignorance.
Ten years ago they might have succeeded, but with the proliferation of social media in the form of YouTube, Facebook and Twitter such a move is impossible. They can stop the presses, shut down the TV networks, revoke press licences but they are powerless to stop the Tweets of ordinary citizens. (To enter the Twitter stream use #iranelection.)
There are two revolutions going on. One local and political, the other global and social.
The social media revolution is made spectacularly evident in the face of a repressive government, but let’s remember that the same revolution is quietly taking place here.
Not too long ago we were the obedient recipients of a broadcast culture that kept us enthralled with the Ten O’Clock News, commercials, posters and ads. We either liked what they had to say or lumped it.
Now it’s a two-way conversation. The newscasters rely on citizen journalists – people like you and me. If something doesn’t add up, we tell each other within seconds. Social media has given us a freedom of information and self-expression we’ve never had before. The question is: what are we going to do with it?
Tags: citizen journalists, Facebook, iran election, iranelection, social media, Twitter, YouTube
