Digital Media Analysis

Many of the changes that have taken place in the MENA region are ultimately the result of a changing society that used digital media as a means to broadcast their desires. In Tunisia and Egypt the population was primarily younger and more educated that the generation before them and developed a different view on the world. What was accepted by the population had begun to change and as a result, the government needed to change. In a democratic society, the government would adapt social change much quicker, but in an authoritarian regime where it is primarily controlled by the whims of one person, the population has to force a change to happen, generally through mass protests and civil unrest. Monarchs like Jordan and Bahrain had only small …show more content…
From the buildup of discontent on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs, to the act of organizing through phones and social media events, and through the visibility of on the ground action digital media was used during the Arab Spring and will continue to be used as a tool for social and political movements. The visibility that comes along with the use of digital media will prevent most states from taking inhumane actions against their citizens if they are weary of how the rest of the world will view them. The United States and the UN has spoken out against the Chinese actions against protestors in Hong Kong primarily due to the visibility that comes from sharing images and videos from protests via digital media. The protests in Ferguson, Missouri have not been isolated to the small city outside St. Louis primarily because of the spread of information via digital media. Solidarity protests have taken place all over the United States, and even in London, because people can connect with the reasons behind the protests. The Occupy Protests started off as a small gathering in New York, but with the assistance of digital media the message of protesting against economic and social inequality spread through many major cities in the United States and through the world. All of these actions can be watched as they are streamed live via the Internet. Human …show more content…
Social and cultural norms are developing and changing and the citizens want the government to reflect those changes. During the Arab Spring, state borders couldn’t stop the wave of protests that moved throughout the MENA region. Looking toward the future, it’s unlikely that state and regional borders will be able to stop social movements because activists are starting to learn how to use digital media as a tool to spread their messages and connect with like minded