Since I started using Twitter regularly, I’ve been fascinated by it’s possible application as a tool for social change. For the uninitiated, Twitter is a silly pastime for people who want the world to know what they’re having for breakfast. While it’s true that these breakfast exhibitionists do exist, there is a much more serious side of Twitter: the revolutionary side.
In a blog post that will follow, I will discuss Twitter’s use for protest and organizing within the U.S. This post, however, will only look at Twitter use overseas. The following are some of the international movements that have recently used Twitter to organize and publicize:
1. Protests in Iran
With deep suspicions that the recent re-election of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was the result of fraud, Iranians supporting opposition leader Moussavi have taken to the streets in protest. In reaction, the Iranian government has shut down cell phone coverage and nearly eliminated Internet bandwidth. The protesters needed a way to organize and publicize what they were doing without cell phones, access to mainstream media, and with hardly any bandwidth. The answer: Twitter.
Of course all sorts of groups are covering the important role of Twitter in Iran, including Twitter-hater. To keep up to date on the phenomenon, here is an updated list of people who are tweeting from Iran.
2. Protests in Moldova
In April, the Communists in Moldova won enough votes to take over the government there. The youth of Moldova, however, thought this was a bad idea and they decided to protest.
Most people don’t know where Moldova is (It’s between Romania and Ukraine), let alone care about its politics. However, because of the Moldovan uprising’s use of Twitter and Facebook, their protests got widespread coverage.
Despite being a confirmed new junkie, I don’t know if I ever would have heard of the protests in Moldova without Twitter.
3. Gaza Offensive
As Israel was attacking Gaza in early 2009, many used Twitter to get information out and to organize protests around the world. Mainstream media were barred from going into Gaza to report on what was happening, so the world’s only information cam from people in Gaza tweeting, texting, and e-mailing.
While this was all going on, I looked to Twitter first for any information on the offensive. One of my favorite tweeters now is @gazamom, whom I found through @mbrooker. The easy access and low-bandwidth requirements made tweeting from Gaza a possibility when most forms of communication were not viable. More importantly, it provided the world with a first-hand, real time account of the offensive.
4. Riots in Greece
After police killed a 15-year-old boy in December, Greek anarchists started making their displeasure known. The protests, many of which turned into riots, were publicized and organized using Twitter, Facebook and other social media.
The result was that groups around Europe started protesting as well in solidarity. To use a hackneyed term, the Greek protests went viral.
Conclusion
Protest and public dissent do nothing when they happen in a vacuum. A protest without an audience is completely ineffective. Having a mass media structure that is not only free, but also interested in social change is hard to come by in many countries. Thankfully, social media, and Twitter in particular, are providing an audience for dissent and suppressed information around the globe. Check back this Thursday for my blog about using Twitter for social change in the United States.