User:Hamza Malik IR

Role of Social Media in International Relations
== Social Media plays very important role in International Relations. An increasingly interconnected world has emerged due to globalization and rapid advances in information technology. Social Media, Mobile technology and the Internet continue to spread globally, accelerating and expanding the free flow of information. This interconnectivity enables influences to create deep transactional networks and impact on a global scale. Global communities can also be created virtually and conversations can start anywhere at any time. The Arab Spring is often considered one of social media’s breakout moments. Sometimes referenced as the “Twitter Revolution” participles used social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Youtube both to mobilize and inform the world as the story unfolded. In Egypt, Libya and most recently in Syria, government leaders temporarily cut off internet access indirectly recognizing the role of social media and other connective technologies played in accelerating the social movements. These movements demonstrate the power of a digitally enpowered public and how technology can be leveraged for global influence. In 2002 The Philippines protest by text messages to mobilize and coordinate their action. Text message traffic doubled to over 70 million a day. Intensity of the protests forced the Supreme Court to declare the presidency void. In 2004 in Ukraine text messages played a role in coordinating young Ukrainians in their “Orange Revolution”. Internet was used to recruit volunteers, organize campaigns, raise funds, report breaking news. Protests led to a Re-Vote. In Iran in 2009 role of social media as a communication tool in coordinating and publicizing mass protests. Twitter provided up to the minute updates from the street level. Global Media forced to rely on Twitter feeds. Social Media provides new tools for world leaders to communicate with each other and with citizens.