Social Media Allows Free Speech

People all over the world have been immersed in the unprecedented events taking place in Egypt and Tunisia over the past couple of months. The revolution has sparked widespread interest, not only in the news stories themselves, but also how much input social media has had in the protests.

Tahir Square has been the central focus, with a flurry of bloggers capturing the unfolding events. The bloggers were hindered by Egypt’s internet service providers being shut down. However, the news had already reached audiences on a global scale.

Facebook, Twitter and blogs gave demonstrators the platform they needed to get their voices heard. Social media has been highly damaging to the dictatorial regime and has allowed protestors to be incredibly organised and onlookers kept on time of the situation in real time; whereas, prior to social media, people in Middle Eastern companies have been oppressed and have not had the platform for free speech. Social Media has brought people together to give them control over those who have controlled them for so many years.