Did Facebook Help Spur Egypt’s Revolt? (Video)
In a bit of good news, Egyptian authorities released Google executive Wael Ghonim, whose disappearance more than a week ago made him a cause celebre of sorts. After his release, Ghonim admitted that he was behind a very influential Facebook page that helped lead to what he called the “the revolution of the youth of the internet.” Read more about what he said after his release here (video).
To be sure, Facebook has proven to be a powerful tool for organizing the revolution in Egypt and other social movements. That’s no surprise to David Kirkpatrick, author of The Facebook Effect: The Inside Story of the Company That is Connecting the World.
“If you’re dissatisfied about anything and you want to communicate with a large group of people about it, I guarantee you that you’re most likely to use Facebook,” Kirkpatrick said. “It has changed the governments in country after country. It has affected pothole repair. It has affected local governments … It’s actually having more of that kind of an impact in some ways outside the United States — where it is not perceived so much as a kids-students thing – in countries like Egypt, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Chili – huge impact in the political realities of those places.”
Listen to more of David’s insights into Facebook below:
open source video, online video platform, video streaming, video solutionsMeanwhile, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan is known for her grace, public service, and outspokenness on issues of world peace, and she is now weighing in on Egypt’s revolution.
Appearing on Piers Morgan’s show on CNN last night, Queen Noor said that if it is democracy the world wants in Egypt, then all opposition groups – including the Muslim Brotherhood – must be included in the political discussions.
“Most Arabs are moderate peaceful centrists,” she said. “The Muslim Brotherhood are one of many groups throughout the region that have points of view that need to come to the table.”
We hope the people of Egypt can find a peaceful solution to their cause.
More genConnect stories:
Egypt Revolution Highlights the Power of Internet, Twitter
‘Day of Departure’ Calls for Immediate Ouster of Egypt’s Mubarak
David Kirkpatrick: Facebook’s Effects on Nearly Everything (Video)
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