Revolution in the Age of Social Media : The Egyptian Popular Insurrection and the Internet

"Egypt's January 25 revolution was triggered by a Facebook page and played out both in virtual spaces and the streets. Social media serves as a space of liberation, but it also functions as an arena where competing forces vie over the minds of the young as they battle over ideas as important as the nature of freedom and the place of the rising generation in the political order. This book provides piercing insights into the ongoing struggles between people and power in the digital age"--Résumé de l'éditeur. Read more... Abstract: An accessible guide to the enduring struggle between people and power in the digital age. Read more... Egypt's January 25 Revolution Was Triggered By A Facebook Page And Played Out Both In Virtual Spaces And The Streets. Social Media Serves As A Space Of Liberation, But It Also Functions As An Arena Where Competing Forces Vie Over The Minds Of The Young As They Battle Over Ideas As Important As The Nature Of Freedom And The Place Of The Rising Generation In The Political Order. This Book Provides Piercing Insights Into The Ongoing Struggles Between People And Power In The Digital Age-- A Facebook Page Inspired Egypt's 2011 Revolution, An Uprising Played Out As Much In Virtual Locations As On The Streets. The Promise Of Social Media To Liberate And Democratize Was Vividly Realized, But The Same Technology Has Created An Arena Where Competing Forces Vie To Influence The Minds Of The Young. This Online Battle Of Ideas May Determine Matters As Fundamental To Political Life As The Nature Of Freedom And The Place Of The Present Generation In The Political Order. Revolution In The Age Of Social Media Provides Piercing Insights Into The Ongoing Struggle Between People And Power In The Digital Age-- Wired Youth Rise -- Cyberdissident Diplomacy -- Marketing Martyrdom -- Virtual Vendetta -- Viral Revolution -- Memes And The War Of Ideas -- The Anti-ideology Machine. Linda Herrera. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. An accessible guide to the enduring struggle between people and power in the digital age Egypt’s January 25 Revolution of 2011 was a dramatic demonstration of the role social media has come to play in radical activism. A key moment was the appearance of the Facebook page "We Are All Khaled Said," which linked activists across the country. But how useful are social media in radical politics? And how readily can they be turned against the activists? Revolution in the Age of Social Media looks at the role of that seminal Facebook page and the conspiracy theories that swirled around its administrator, Wael Ghonim. Herrera reveals the immense power struggles that took place in virtual arenas, showing how social media can serve not only as a site of liberation, but also as a place where powerful forces—such the US State Department, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the Egyptian military—vie for control over the hearts and minds of the young. The Egyptian uprising, while in many ways a distinctly Arab event, is also a universal story of power and insurrection in the age of social media. "A Facebook page inspired Egypt's 2011 revolution, an uprising played out as much in virtual locations as on the streets. The promise of social media to liberate and democratize was vividly realized, but the same technology has created an arena where competing forces vie to influence the minds of the young. This online battle of ideas may determine matters as fundamental to political life as the nature of freedom and the place of the present generation in the political order. Revolution in the Age of Social Media provides piercing insights into the ongoing struggle between people and power in the digital age"-- Provided by publisher