From Al-Jazeera to Twitter. The Influence of the New Media on the Arab Spring

Abstract

The Internet played an important role during the revolution in the Arab countries, and the issue of utilizing both traditional and new media is still being discussed with respect to many aspects. The information which is transmitted in authoritarian states is carefully selected, therefore the Internet has become an important medium on the territory of Arab countries. Thanks to this, the protesters could easily organize themselves, and inform the world about what was really going on in their countries. One could, of course, ask whether a revolution can be carried out with the sole use of the Internet - but the answer is no. The Internet is only a tool and a means in pursuing a defined goal, albeit a means of an extensive range and enormous power.