Hot Topic - Egypt, Twitter and the rise of the watch dog crowd.
From Internet: Knowledge and Community
Feb. 11, 2011
There were two critical masses that led to the resignation of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on Friday: One was the horde of protesters who flooded Tahrir Square in the country's capital of Cairo for two weeks. The second was the fusion of millions of observers, pundits, and supporters around the world into a sort of leaderless digital watchdog, an unwavering force that ensured the international eye would not stray from Egypt.
It's the latter where we can credit social media.
Read more: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-20031600-36.html#ixzz1DlH2pHJT
Safeeks response
I agree it took allot to get the people of Egypt to stay strong at their cause. I can only imagine the guts those protesters had, some gave their lives, I hope we will all remember them kindly. Anyhow This was a great risk, one that ended in the peoples best intrest, imagine if they failed what would their faith be? will Mubarak seek revenge if he had succedded in staying in power. This could have ended up being another Iraq when Sadam stayed in power after the Americans left and those who supported the Americans where killed and yes all even the woman and children were killed by Sadams power. Only time can tell now what will be the future of Egypt and its people. Yes I am very happy for this outcome. I only dream that one day her in the U.S we will have such courage to stand up for what we believe in.
Without a doubt, it is amazing what has been transpiring in Egypt. I do think its important to consider the role technology does (and doesn't) play in this kind of scenario. What it does do is act as a vessel to expedite communication between people and places very quickly. What it can't do is be the motivation for change. There have been many great social movements in history, all achieved up to this point without the aid of Twitter or Facebook, so the way I see it social networking on the Internet is only part of the equation. At the core of social change is the dedication and sacrifice of individuals committed to a cause. The upheaval in Egypt would have happened with or without Twitter.
Yes the upheaval in Egypt did happen because someone decided to use the internet to start some form of protest which let to Mubarak stepping down as president of Egypt. I agree this would have happened with or without our current technoloy of social media, but it did help in this case and only time can tell now what will be Egypts faith??? Lets look at Bahrain where thousands of protesters are occuping Pearl square wanting the same results as Egypt. The protesters in Bahrain has not recieved support from their milatary like the Egypians, it is still to soon to see what will their outcome will be. Egypt truimpt cause of thier close ties with the military will Bahrain?
