I share the opinion that Barack Obama was elected with the help of the Internet. At this very moment, we are witnessing developments in Iran that may, in the future, be referred to as the “Internet Revolution,” “Facebook Revolution,” or “Social Networks Revolution.”
Amateur videos captured on cell phones and posted on Facebook and YouTube are now making their way to CNN and other major news networks.
“We are constantly receiving new Iranian videos over the Internet.”
“…The Iranian opposition leader posted a message on his Facebook page stating that he ‘is ready for martyrdom’ and calling for a national strike if he is arrested.”
Hundreds of posts and videos are being shared on Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks, generating an avalanche of comments. Thousands of people in different cities are protesting, documenting their actions, and sharing videos and images online. In response,
- Google has added Farsi to its Translate service.
- Facebook has introduced a Farsi version of the platform and launched a dedicated Iran page.
In just four days of Iranian protests, Facebook reached its highest traffic levels in history (according to Alexa rankings). This moment serves as undeniable evidence of the growing role of the Internet and social media in shaping modern events. While the Iraq War was broadcast via television, today’s revolutions are being shaped by the Internet.
Whether the protests in Iran will lead to regime change or merely remain a minority uprising is yet to be seen. However, what is clear is that the Internet has become one of the most, if not the most, influential social media platforms in history. I look forward to reading future research studies titled “The Role of the Internet in Iran’s 2009 Revolution.”
P.S. I am not an expert on Iranian politics and cannot say with certainty whether Mousavi would be significantly different, as that is for the Iranian people to decide. However, based on the images I have seen, this is more than just a protest against electoral fraud.
06/22/2009 add-on
In its evening report, CNN discussed the role of the Internet in Iran’s unrest, referring to it as a “Facebook Revolution,” “Twitter Revolution,” or, more broadly, a “Social Networking Revolution.” The report quoted Hillary Clinton, who remarked, “I wouldn’t know a Twitter from a Tweeter, but apparently, it is very important.”