The Arab Spring And The Zuckerberg Effect

634 Words3 Pages
1 The Arab Spring and The Zuckerberg Effect Professor Morrouichi discussed the lack of banners. Banners in revolutions are used as communication. They communicate messages and spur action. The lack of such communication is foretelling. Is something else going on? Is there a change in how a revolution starts? It appears so, as I penetrate beneath the surface of the Tunisian uprising, Professor Morrouichi is correct. It is the brilliance of the youth and the influence of Mark Zuckerberg that drove this particular revolution. It is eerie how the Zuckerberg effect caused a social uprising. In his letter to investors on the eve of going public Zuckerberg speaks. In his own words, Zuckerberg makes it clear that Facebook is about Social connections. Tunisian youth use Facebook in an unprecedented way. Perhaps Zuckerberg is correct, Facebook is changing the world quite literally. This essay will examine the Zuckerberg effect on the Arab Spring beginning in Tunisia. December 17, 2010 was a sad day for the world. One would think that a mature world society would learn from history. In our own country, African-Americans went through hell for no good reason; they suffered lynching, burnings and all manner of atrocities. Perhaps human suffering as Renan notes is a pre-cursor to revolution and the foundation for a new nation. Tunisia is no different. An unwitting computer science graduate, only 26 years old, Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire. A Policewoman slapped Mr. Bouazizi. The Policewoman forced the young man to pick up his fruit vending cart and stop doing business. This was a humiliating but necessary trade for the young graduate. He reached his breaking point at the hands of an oppressive regime. His reaction? He set himself on fire and the Tunisian youth took great notice. 2 Mr. Bouazizi’s action was captured on video. The videographer uploaded
Open Document