Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

#Egypt: Exploring Social Media As Association And Participatory Reporting, Emily Fisk

College of Arts and Sciences Presentations

The discussion of the role of social media in the Arab Spring is often characterized by two opposing views: one citing social media as a causal link in the myriad protests and revolutions, and the other downplaying social media's influence in these events and instead emphasizing social and political factors. However, for scholars, mass media, citizens, and activists alike, it is more useful now to move beyond this debate, and instead to critically analyze the undeniable role that social media has played in recent protests. Understanding these events requires looking at both social media's affordances and social and political factors. …