Social Media Revolution: Community first, technology second
The “Facebook revolution” of Egypt that happened in January was a turning point to me. Has technology created a rapid-fire medium to collectivize? Could the downfall of oppressive regimes in the Middle East be accredited to a couple of geeks from silicon valley? Especially working half in the tech field it was something that excited me and the people around me. It injected passion and purpose to our work that could justify unhealthy consumption of redbull and obsession w/ the intangible.
But 9 months after the fact, and this awesome shareable article to thank, I’ve calmed down, rounded out my perspective. Apparently 95% of Egyptians were not using social media at the time. The sheer momentum the movement gained was because of the layers of social networks that existed outside of the digital: the work groups, the community centers, the churches. The decades of livid frustration with leaders who didn’t care. Technology is something to enhance community, not something to replace it. A lesson I need to keep telling myself before I get wound up. Again.
Notes
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