The role of technology in the Egyptian revolution
Technological tools were being used by those who are pursuing more participatory governance in Egypt. Many have used them to great impact, the most famously the April 6 youth movement and Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who was one of the creators of the “ We are all Khaled Said” facebook group and Youtube campaign. Both have been described in the western media for connecting a new generation of Egyptian activists. Even mobile phones were little used in campaigns by the labor movement and judiciary. Social networking is a very famous force in certain layers of Egyptian society.it is a common source for news and information for everyone.
Facebook is the most popular platform, many Facebook users see the site as more of a publishing platform than a space for online socializing. Facebook is the most interesting application of new media; many parties in Egypt used Facebook as a spin machine, Whenever the government provided an opportunity. When security forces broke in their front door on January 26,2011 they immediately put up a Facebook group to collect popular anger and let the media know. This strategy is effective because traditional media such as newspapers and broadcast news shows often report on the size of these groups as a proxy of expressing their own political views.
In addition mobile phones played an important role in the revolution. Text messages and voice calls enabled the Egyptian people to stay informed, and to communicate among themselves and to the outside world.
Moustafa Azmi
