Arab Social Networking

Social networking sites along with the regional blogosphere have introduced a new form of mass communication amongst the young. Many people have started to use these services productively and frequently to communicate and network with each other to achieve common goals. This level of interactive journalism has proven to be so influential in certain countries of the region where censorship is more rampant - as is the case in Egypt and Iran - that the governments have began to monitor, harass, and occasionally arrest activist bloggers. This is mostly due to the fact that blogging plays a role in organising social movements, attracting thousands of young activists whose efforts are eventually covered by prominent international news media, jeopardizing the foreign relations and worldwide reputation of the said countries. It also gives a louder voice to minorities who are usually oppressed and who face extreme censorship in mainstream media outlets. Victims of such oppression include Kurdish activists, Baha'is and homosexuals, amongst others.

In the past, traditional media outlets offered a transmissional model of communication, where messages were simply sent and received with little to no interaction from the public. As previously stated, many of these media outlets were directly run by governments, making them products for state-sponsored propaganda. The internet has completely changed this, by performing as a model where entire communities can get involved, building lasting connections with like-minded individuals and organizing new campaigns or empowering existing ones. Traditional media outlets such as newspapers, television, and radio rarely offer this opportunity. Independent publications are very difficult to finance, radio and television channels are still impossible to initiate by average young people, and it has not been common for activists to get involved in the mainstream media. The internet on the other hand is increasingly becoming more common in households and university campuses, which makes it possible for independent activists or writers to reach a much wider audience. A popular local blog is almost as influential today as a popular newspaper, and in addition to that, it has a better potential of receiving attention from foreign news media.

Arabic Social Networking - Free Arabic Movies - Free Arabic Social Networking