Social media has long been found to be an evolutionary piece of technology in the internet world, but this has been greatly altered in the last few days to include the protests of a culture which was previously stifled through limited outside communications. Social media has provided Iranian citizens, disgruntled from the election results, to have an outlet through which to voice their opinions on the matter and even organize protests in the streets. Mousavi has called for a re-election over the past days and Ahmadinejad’s response of thwarting journalists’ attempt to chronicle the mass riots that have flooded the city streets has only increased citizens’ need for an alternate media outlet. The Twitter revolution has been one that has been ongoing for the past 6 months, including international reports of riots from many stifled developing nations, and has reemerged through the site Mousavi1388 that features updates on the crisis in Iran. With this event gaining international attention through every media realm, there have been limited accounts due to Ahmadinejad’s crack-downs on many internet sites around the nation, thereby causing many users to go through proxy servers in order to fully update their blogs and other social media accounts. Facebook users have also seen the influx in groups that are pro-Mousavi or anti-Ahmadinejad which is a complete transition from the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Many citizens now have an outlet to turn to and are no longer the meager nation they once were, without any type of outside communication. Rather, they now have the attention of the international sector in a way which only 5 years ago was unheard of in the Middle East. Iraqis were never allowed contact with the outside world during a time of political upheaval, but were instead forced to succumb to their former dictator’s will.
Now, Iranian citizens are allowed to venture forward into a time of social media revolution, through which their discontent can be heard throughout the world and they can make contact with the outside world as well. Many in the Western nations do not realize the difficulty that arises when you are cut off from other nations, or even told what websites you can and cannot go to. We have never had to deal with these types of restrictions since our rights have been protected for decades and there would be mass riots if anyone tried to constrict these rights. Understanding the mindset of this culture is important in deciphering the hardships they have faced through most of their lives; they never have had a true democracy (although they have “democratic” elections) and still yearn for this type of freedom to choose their own leader. As has been seen through the many Facebook groups and Twitter posts, the Iranian election has opened a new gateway for the citizens of this nation and has helped them discover alternative routes to democracy.
This post was contributed by Caitlin Smith, who writes about the best online degrees. She welcomes your feedback at CaitlinSmith1117 at gmail.com
through limited outside communications. Social media has provided Iranian citizens, disgruntled from the election results, to have an outlet through which to voice their opinions on the matter and even organize protests in the streets. Mousavi has called for a re-election over the past days and Ahmadinejad’s response of thwarting journalists’ attempt to chronicle the mass riots that have flooded the city streets has only increased citizens’ need for an alternate media outlet. The Twitter revolution has been one that has been ongoing for the past 6 months, including international reports of riots from many stifled developing nations, and has reemerged through the site Mousavi1388 that features updates on the crisis in Iran. With this event gaining international attention through every media realm, there have been limited accounts due to Ahmadinejad’s crack-downs on many internet sites around the nation, thereby causing many users to go through proxy servers in order to fully update their blogs and other social media accounts. Facebook users have also seen the influx in groups that are pro-Mousavi or anti-Ahmadinejad which is a complete transition from the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Many citizens now have an outlet to turn to and are no longer the meager nation they once were, without any type of outside communication. Rather, they now have the attention of the international sector in a way which only 5 years ago was unheard of in the Middle East. Iraqis were never allowed contact with the outside world during a time of political upheaval, but were instead forced to succumb to their former dictator’s will.
Now, Iranian citizens are allowed to venture forward into a time of social media revolution, through which their discontent can be heard throughout the world and they can make contact with the outside world as well. Many in the Western nations do not realize the difficulty that arises when you are cut off from other nations, or even told what websites you can and cannot go to. We have never had to deal with these types of restrictions since our rights have been protected for decades and there would be mass riots if anyone tried to constrict these rights. Understanding the mindset of this culture is important in deciphering the hardships they have faced through most of their lives; they never have had a true democracy (although they have “democratic” elections) and still yearn for this type of freedom to choose their own leader. As has been seen through the many Facebook groups and Twitter posts, the Iranian election has opened a new gateway for the citizens of this nation and has helped them discover alternative routes to democracy.
This post was contributed by Caitlin Smith, who writes about the best online degrees. She welcomes your feedback at CaitlinSmith1117 at gmail.com
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Thanks for nice post. Hey Dan, your new theme is very cool ^_^
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I was watching about this very thing on the news in the last few days. Amazing how things evolve and take on a life of their own. I too really like the new theme. Very nice header.
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