Tweeting Iran revolution: Media or activism tool?

In the past few days, the online world – blogosphere, twitterverse and mainstream media – has been abuzz with the role of twitter in Iran revolution. The basic question that has emerged is – What is the role of twitter in the ongoing protests in Iran? Should Twitter be seen as a reporting tool or as an activism tool?

What happened during Iran elections?

The re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran has angered the supporters of reformist challenger Mir Hossein Mousavi who are now disputing the election results. The Iran government led by Ahmadinejad has blocked traditional media outlets to restrict the information against his regime. The supporters of Mousavi, therefore, are using social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to spread information, organize and collaborate.

How are the protestors using Twitter in Iran election?

There are several twitter accounts that are being used by protestors in Iran to spread information such as mousavi1388 (as reported in NYT), loftan.org besides others.

Understanding the role of Twitter

I think Twitter is being used both to spread information (as a media platform) and to organize and collaborate (as an activism platform). To think of it as performing only one of these roles would be a mistake. Because when twitter is used as a tool by activists / protestors themselves to spread information or to urge to keep on the fight it becomes a tool for both reporting and activism. People on twitter who changed their location to Tehran would also be seen as supporting the cause of protestors.

What is debatable is how big a role twitter plays in such political protests? Here, I think twitter is a tool like many others (online and offline tools) which the activists may be using during such campaigns. Therefore, to accord Twitter a highly significant status may not be a good idea. Because in developing countries, such as Iran there are many people who still don’t have access to social media and those who have may not be sophisticated users of technology.

However, the crucial role of twitter may not be neglected in such political campaigns, because the key people (organizers) in such protests are sophisticated users of Internet. They also know how important it is to have the support of international community during such protests.

Therefore, I think Twitter should be seen as both media tool as well as activism platform. Even so for reporting and activism during such protests, Twitter should be seen as one tool among many. What is also important is to understand the use of twitter by protestors within Iran to share and collaborate with each other and to reach out to international community outside Iran with information/ and for support during such protests.

Some additional links on Twitter in Iran revolution -

1. Social networks spread defiance online by Brad Stone and Noam Cohen

2. Tweeting Iran: Elex news in 140 characters or less by Rebecca Santana

3. Where is my Vote? : Iranians organize online by Mary Joyce

4. The Irony of Iran’s Twitter revolution? by Gaurav Mishra

5. More on Twitter and Protests in Tehran by Evgeny Morozov

6. Tear down this cyberwall by Nicholas D. Kristof

7. Media Literacy 101: “Allah O Akbar!” has become a cry for freedom by Susan Moeller

8. Media Literacy 101: Cloak- and – dagger news by Susan Moeller

9. America’s Iranian Twitter revolution by Maximillan Forte

10. Is Twitter really a tool for democracy? by Elizabeth Lazar

11. Iran, citizen media and media attention by Ethan Zuckerman

12. Twitter on the Barricades in Iran: Six lessons learned by Noam Cohen