The Middle East Society and Social Media

Social media in the Middle East has played different roles as it has in other nations, and this can be attributed to the difference of cultural practices and the level of development in each of the Middle Eastern countries. In most countries media is a tool that has been in use for a long time, from the times of past to recent times, the role of media has drastically changed. In this paper, we shall investigate the role of Social media in the Middle East. Also, we shall show examples of real life events that have led us to our conclusion as to the statement above. To do this, academic materials such as books, journals and others shall be employed to cite these instances. The works that shall be used have been verified as to the author’s legitimacy and material originality. This work presented here is important for academicians who could use it as reference material and also to businesses and foreign companies who might be interested in venturing in to the Middle East region.   

The MediaIn General

It is known that the media is only a vessel of information and major media organizations sometimes emerge as the main determinant in the public vote. Much like how Facebook census is used as academic reference materials or reference materials for policy makers.  It is for this reason that politicians seek out the media figureheads to try and sway the public opinion by their collaborating with them (Sreberny 3). This makes the media a force to reckon with because their ability to reach out into the hearts and minds of their subscribers is truly invaluable. The question is whether this is the case for all types of media all over the world. The media is used as a tool by most politicians to reach out to their supporters and sometimes to propagate their agendas. In the Middle East, politics are the main agenda of the day as is in most other countries. Social media also acts as a platform where corruption is exposed and commendable works noted. This creates a lot of support from the citizens who are glad to have a corrupt free state and region.  Citizens to an extent have also taken to social media to revel out their political differences. For instance the people of Gaza took to social media to voice their disappointments towards the unrest

Media has grown into a phenomenon that has amazed many who had their eye on the Arabian nation and the Middle East by the sheer number of individuals who use the social media and the things that they have achieved through it like change of regimes. This has been a constant development from its humble beginnings where cell phones were primarily for using the short messages or calling to the now-powerful force that sways the nations with clicks of buttons from virtually anywhere (Tufekci and Wilson 371). Because of this, media has cleared the way for more outspoken diplomats to take the stage and say their part in the nation’s claims. The media has also developed an important role of educating the society, especially the young, in the literary works and general skills of life by giving them the opportunity to browse through hundreds of lifestyles and access to educational materials posted on some pages on social media (Somadahl-Sands and Belbas 293). This makes media not only a political tool but also an educational tool

Focus on Middle East and Major Arab Breakthroughs

The media in the Middle East have been in constant attack from the governments in this region who aim at reducing the impact they have over the people. This they try to do by monitoring social media activists who they name as dangerous in society and sometimes rogue. For instance, the Saudi Arabia government has long been trying to implement such laws (Saudi Gazette). Such laws are undoubtedly aimed at silencing the growing voice in the social media.

Technology provides a powerful tool of communication all around the world. Social media provides the ideal platform for the media to convey their messages with great efficiency. This creates a fast updated society that reacts to the simplest of stimuli from their political leaders , religious leaders and/or their inspirational leaders. Journalist Giuliana Sgrena reported that in the past, this has led leaders to rush out and create laws that hinder effective usage of the social media so as to cool off the international pressure (Sgrena). The international community has realize the great importance of social media in the Middle East and have also joined in these platform to try and root out extremists that propagate violence (Socialmediadne, 232)

These recent intervention of the international community into the affairs of these nations has sparked the different groups of people to fight harder for the nations prestige and their own rights through the use of social media networks. They have done this by being bolder and openly condemning oppressive rule in the social media and calling for change. Katerina Dalacoura wrote on the International Affairs Journal, “social media are used by conservative as much as by progressive and revolutionary forces ” (69). Not only has it been an important tool of expression, the social media has also been an important socialization tool. A great number of people have at one point or the other adopted social media. This done, they have used it as a platform for finding friends and uniting people who have similar principles. This results in formation of powerful allied groups like those who partook in the demonstrations of Tahrir.

Recent movements such as the Iranian protests, Tahrir demonstration and Egyptian revolt have moved a lot of people to look harder at these nations (Social Media: A Force for Political Change in Egypt). These movements mainly were orchestrated with use of simple technological devices such as phones and the like (Lotan). These movements have toppled governments of Tunisia, Egypt and some in the extensive Middle East (Lamer; Sreberny 2). In 2011, the social media was a tool that everyone adopted in either seeking news in the Middle East for communicating the systems of government and the abuse of human rights in the Middle

Technology is meant to integrate into the societal framework in order for it to work in harmony with the host and be accepted such as a religious community. Social media has been able to penetarte the barriers that are present in the physical world. For instance, a muslim teacher in sydney has been able to connest to more than two thousand followers thus overcoming geographical hurdle that would have previuosly proved impossible (Osman). Sydney’s online teacher while commenting to Point Magazine about the popularity of his social pages ponited out that some of his followers were able to express issues that they might have been unable to in personal encounters.

Major Components, Topics of Concern, and Human Responsibility

The main focus of technological advancement is to improve human life as such; the social media platform acts as a branch of technology that is easily accessible to most citizens in all nations including Arabic and Middle East nations (Somdahl-Sands and Belbas 294). The media’s main concern is to inform, educate, and unite their listeners into a common mind of thought. With the adoption of social media in every area of the society, people have gained more access to information while others have acquired a voice. Women in particular are the ones whose voices are dimmed in the heat of politics in these notably Islamic nations. Social media platform has created an arena where there is anonymousness and a females comment or opinion is undistinguishable from the male’s (Osman).

Social media has also been an important tool for business. Through Facebook pages and Twitter accounts, organizations are able to effectively market their products (Moisand). Product marketers are increasingly recommending online marketing for businesses seeking to reach out to their consumers

Social Media Effects

The above analytical report on Arabic and Middle Eastern social media is only but a small fraction of what effect the technology has had on the societies it has touched. It is clear that social media has helped promote national unity and patriotism among the citizens of the nations cited by giving them a voice that is united in the social media. Technology thus is a fundamental aspect that has to be encouraged in all nations especially with the thought of global community development in mind.

The perception of most western nations on these nations is wrongly placed based on fallen regimes and past conflicts. There needs to be educational facilitates that encompass the western and Middle Eastern and bring about cohesion. With the social media, this idea is likely to be achieved by giving each side of the communities an opportunity to view the others way of life and thus the true image of the Middle East may be acquired. Communication is key to the healthy relationship between communities especially those that vary in every aspect of culture. In this regard, a sense of understanding will be acquired in the long run.

There definitely need be a limit as to how much the technology is used and on what issues. These laws however should only be passed with national votes and not by politicians who might only be in it to cover up their dirty deeds. In this paper, it has clearly been shown the importance of social media in Arabic and Middle East nations and the tremendous journey they have taken to arrive at where they are.

Conclusion

Technology has come to the rescue of the people of the Middle East in every sense of the word. Better communication and access to information are just two of the ways that social media has come in handy. It has also been adopted as a tool for marketers to market their wares through pages and groups on Facebook. While the social media took longer to adopt in the Middle East, today it is one of the most important tools in the society. The social media in the Middle East is likely to grow even more and become more useful for the society.

Works Cited

Dalacoura, Katerina. “The 2011 Uprisings in the Arab Middle East: Political Change and Geopolitical Implications.” International Affairs 88.1 (2012): 63-79.

Lamer, Wiebke. “Twitter and Tyrants:New Media and its Effects on Sovereignty in the Middle East.” 2012.

Sgrena, Giuliana. “Afghan Journalists Strain Against Gags.” 18 April 2012. Inter Press Service. 21 March 2015 <http://www.ipsnews.net/2012/04/afghan-journalists-strain-against-gags/>.

Somdahl-Sands, Katrinka and Brad Belbas. “Media representation of the Middle East: constructive student engagement in an online environment.” Learning, Media & TechnologySeptember (2012): 289-302.

Sreberny, Annabelle. “New Media and the Middle East: Thinking allowed.” (2012): 2-5.

Tufekci, Zeynep, and Christopher Wilson. “Social media and the decision to participate in political protest: Observations from Tahrir Square.” Journal of Communication 62.2 (2012): 363-379.

Lotan, Gilad. “Israel, Gaza, War & Data: Social Networks and the Art of Personalizing Propaganda.” 10 July 2014. The Huffington Post. 07 April 2015 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/middle-east-social-media/>.

Osman, Malik. “A convert to Facebook: How a Sydney Muslim teacher is finding a new audience.” The Point Magazine July 2013.

Saudi Gazette. “Saudi Arbia is Mending Laws to Monitor Social Media.” 2 June 2014. Al Alabiya Didital. 7 April 2015 <http://english.alarabiya.net/en/media/digital/2014/06/02/Saudi-Arabia-amending-laws-to-monitor-social-media.html>.

Sosialmediadna. “SOCIAL MEDIA: A VALUABLE TOOL WITH RISKS – Major Cities Chiefs Assiociates and FBI.” 16 August 2013. Slideshare. 7 April 2015 <http://www.slideshare.net/socialmediadna/social-media-a-valuable-tool-with-risks-major-cities-chiefs-assiociates-and-fbi?qid=30696997-6d3e-458e-a56a-6a71b069869a&v=qf1&b=&from_search=2>.

Moisand, Loic. “Social Media Marketting in The Middle East.” 29 April 2014. Socialfresh. 7 April 2015 <http://www.socialfresh.com/social-media-monitoring-middle-east-opportunity/>.