Technological Evolution

The evolution of technologies for communication has had social and political implications and has caused dynamic changes in the way people interact. Recently, this can be examined through the use of social media and mobile technologies in the Arab uprisings of Tunisia and Egypt. Professor Weaver’s personal reflection on the evolution of the field of International Communications brought to mind the rapid progression of technologies, as well as the relevance and importance of the development of different tools for communicating and the implications they have on society and governments. From the management and regulation of the mail system, the invention of the printing press, to the rapid proliferation of the telegraph, telephone and now the internet, the ability to maintain influence over the flow of  information has been vital for world powers to retain both direct and indirect control. Recently the internet, particularly social media, has come to the forefront of the debate over the control of information and what governments can and should do about access, regulation and monitoring. Scholars, politicians and news media outlets, both U.S. and international, have credited the rapid proliferation of revolutionary ideals in Northern Africa to the increased ability of people to connect and share ideas. The use of Facebook and Twitter was not only an avenue for people in Tunisia and Egypt to gain information, but also a way for news media to obtain information about what was occurring on the ground. In Tunisia the journalists were largely restricted from leaving Tunis and it was very difficult to get accurate and relevant information. This forced Western journalists to rely on bloggers from networks such as the Nawaat (www.nawaat.org) to get an idea of what was happening. In Egypt there were bloggers and citizen journalists who initiated, organized and spread information about when and where the demonstrations where to take place. These sophisticated social networks were not bound by traditional national borders and many bloggers and activists were able to spread information on the local, national and international level.