When you think of a revolution what comes to your mind? I assume you picture guns and bombs. Mass amounts of people storming important political buildings. A hint of danger and discontent in the air. The beginning scenes of “Argo” are perhaps the perfect setting for the idea of rebellion. What if I told you that Libya’s revolution is happening (at least partially) through the internet?
Well it’s true. The first hints of rebellion started on the internet through social media. People all through out Libya have been unhappy for some time. For over 40 years Gaddafi ruled the country as a dictator. Getting information that wasn’t supplied by his regime was nearly impossible. He was happy to try to keep the internet out and the use of social media at bay. However in these times it gets harder to quell the links made to the outside world because they are now at your fingertips.
“...that defining image is this: a young woman or a young man with a smartphone. She's in the Medina in Tunis with a BlackBerry held aloft, taking a picture of a demonstration outside the prime minister's house. He is an angry Egyptian doctor in an aid station stooping to capture the image of a man with a head injury from missiles thrown by Mubarak's supporters…”SydneyMorningHerald.com
The new picture of revolution is using your technology as a weapon. Making sure that your opressors know that they may take your rights away but they can not silence your voice.
Twitter and Facebook were used to help people organize and strategize. Being able to make groups and have private settings meant Libyans were able to get together and discuss plans without ever leaving their houses. It took away the fear of being caught because there was no one to see what you were doing.
Social media networks also help spread the word to other countries. "Without social media," says Omar Amer, a representative of the Libyan Youth Movement, based in Britain, "the global reaction to Libya would have been much softer, and very much delayed."(MSNBC.com) Sites like Twitter make news happen instantly. People from around the world can literally watch the events unfold and it makes such situations seem more personal.
Since the overthrow of Gaddafi media outlets have been popping up all over Libya as the people take back their rights. In an article in the NYTimes.com they showcase a young Libyan ,Malik Muhammad al-Mabrouk, who has started his own paper. He is young for a journalist but has seen a lot and has much he wants to accomplish now that freedom of expression isn’t as dangerous as it once was. He is looking to move from the written word into television to reach even more people.
With so many people getting involved and pushing the country forward maybe Libya can move themselves out of the dark ages they have lived in for so long. A brighter future exists for these people and it seems they have found their voices in their Twitter accounts.