Introduction
The use of internet particularly social media has become the part of the modern social life as it has made interaction easier thus bringing people close than ever before. In addition to daily interactions between families and friends, the Arab spring revolution in 2010 onwards saw the role of social media shift to a different dimension of mobilizing groups of people in achieving political changes for democracy. This is evident by the gradual increase in number of Facebook and Twitter subscribers in January 2011 in Egypt the subsequent use of You Tube in informing the world on the ongoing mass protests and rallies that were essentially mobilized through the social media. A report by social media report indicated that over 80 percent of Egyptian protesters relied on Facebook and Twitter to gain information on the protests and updates on the locations of the rallies. This is evident that social media has a significant role in integrating and sensitizing a community towards achievement of a particular goal.
Aim: This research therefore an aim at identifying the role that social media has played in political mobilization in relation to the 2011 Egypt Revolutionary movement and the challenges associated with social media use in the society. The paper will also analyze the social media trends in sociopolitical agendas and evaluate the future of social media after the Spring Revolution.
This research conceptualizes that social media as a cultural tool for community interaction had a significant role in providing information to the protestors and the general public, mobilizing the community to attend mass protests and rallies and to educate the world on the need for support for democratic revolution in Egypt.
Literature review
The literature review borrows heavily on the previous research studies conducted on the issue of social media. According to Dewey and Kaden (2012), the future of the modern society and political agendas are likely to be influenced by social media as this social tool has created a channel where individuals get interact and discuss issues affecting the society especially in terms of politics and democracy. In evaluating the research objectives, the review aims at reviewing social theories to outline the history of social media in social and political mobilization and in particular, identifies how social media was used in Egypt as a tool for:
- Providing information
- Creating awareness to the protesters and the rest of the world and,
- Limitations of relying on social media as a political and social mobilization strategy.
Several studies concludes that social media is an essential part of the modern society and it has been used in sensitizing political changes as experienced in Arab countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Bahrain among others.
Methodology
This research will adopt the use of qualitative study and analysis which involves analysis of data obtained from Egypt spring Revolution case studies. Quantitative research design is also used in measuring the correlation between social media and community mobilization in relations to the Egyptian Revolution protests and rallies. This is achieved through statistical evaluation of variables. Some of the projected research findings include the positive relationship between social media and community mobilization during the struggle for democratic revolution in Egypt.
Conclusion
The rising use of social media has enabled people from different parts of the world to continually interact and share information on various issues affecting the society. As seen in Egypt Revolution, it is evident that social media, as a societal communication tool, has played a great role in political mobilization whereby it has enabled protesters to air their opinions, plan, coordinate and inform the public on the need to fight for democratic change for the better of the community.
References
Harb, Z. (2011). Arab Revolutions and the Social Media Effect. M/C Journal, Vol. 14, No. 2. Retrieved from http://journal.media-culture.org.au/index.php/mcjournal/article/viewArticle/364.
