Online - Sign Off Complete. Is Facebook a Human Right? Egypt and Tunisia Transform Social Media. Many are writing about the role of cell phones and Twitter, Facebook and other social media in enabling/precipitating the events in Tunisia and now in Egypt and possibly beyond.
Clearly social media have a role, but precisely what and the extent is still to be worked through especially now that the events seem to have moved considerably beyond any, where a direct connection can be drawn to media and particularly since the temporary closure of the Internet and thus all interactive media by the Egyptian government. But perhaps the most significant long term impact of social media use in the events is only now starting to emerge as the wondrous surprise of what we have been watching on CNN and Al Jazeera wears off, if only slightly, and we begin to reflect on how the world has changed. That there will be many impacts some profound, many geo-political, even more unanticipated may be taken as a given.
Today's gossip is tomorrow's news.