In recent months, the news over political revolutions erupting in various parts of the world has caught the interest of not just political experts but the collective masses at large. One could say this may be because people have become fed up with old forms of government and political leaders sitting unchecked for decades. However, an equally telling perspective to all these mass uprisings is the role that technology plays in raising the political interest of citizens, not to mention its power to mobilize people. Akin to the explosion of Melaleuca fireworks, this perspective is well worth examining given the role that it purportedly plays in the Middle East and in other countries world wide.
The obvious thing to examine, first and foremost, is the role of technology in information dissemination. Going here, it’s hard to get passed the role that the internet plays in stirring up public consciousness towards the relevant issues. Before the advent of the internet, finding perspective on various issues was like pulling teeth especially in countries where information is tightly controlled by oppressive, dictatorial regimes.
Today, one can visit website from virtually anywhere in the globe. Facebook, for example, is an excellent platform for sharing information. You can start here and before long, you’ll find yourself reading somebody else’s blog. The interconnectivity cuts through all spectrum of information dissemination allowing everyone to get the message almost instantaneously. Today, there’s no more waiting; you do not have to sit on a plane if you plan to explore or try out South Africa travel; a few clicks here and there and you’re looking at the best that South Africa has to offer.
And then, there’s social media. Facebook and Twitter are primary driving factors in that they not only simplify information sharing, but also empower everyone to participate in the discussion. Facebook and Twitter are excellent sounding boards for personal opinion. Before long, everyone is part of the discussion and people are talking about all things important to them.
But perhaps the most pressing indicator of how technology is becoming a driving factor in political revolutions is that it simplifies information dissemination, something that we have touched prior but not fully expounded on. A virtual phone service, for example, allows you to send text messages to hundreds of friends regarding rally schedules. Twitter and Facebook does the same thing. Before, you’d have to rely on word-of-mouth to get people to come to an event. Today, a mere text or Facebook status reaches a very wide audience. In a few hours, you can mobilize an entire city to participate in a protest.
There is no doubt that technology is becoming a very powerful driving factor for the rise of political revolutions. It is empowering citizens to air out their concerns, to gather in masses to protest their ails and to give them a voice where they would have otherwise been drowned out or suppressed. It is a very powerful medium for overcoming apathy, getting the message across, and inviting everyone to take arms. Without it, there would have been lesser political upheavals in the world. You can very well say the rise of technology is the death of dictatorships. Now, isn’t that a well-received message that’s worthy of all commendation?