Social technology & revolutions

The London Salon, 4 April 2011

Social Technology & RevolutionsFrom Obama to Egyptby Matt Gierhart

What is a Social Media Revolution?Why did Martin Luther publish on a door, rather than a letter or a book, etc.?

Individual vs Communal KnowledgeEpistemology of information structures tell us that freedom of speech is just as important as public assembly.

What this looks like on the internet: The story of the cat in the bin

Internet group 4chan was able to determine who the lady was within 48 hours based only on the youtube video.

“Go 2 EDSA. Wear blk.”Philippine revolution, 2001

The digital learnings of Egyptelements of a revolution

UnrestSocial Media didn’t start the revolution, injustice did. What social media did at the very early stages was quickly organise the efforts.

Shutting the internet offThe global reaction

Map of Egypt TwitterNot influencer driven, more nodes of messages

External revolution

Twitter’s from around the world changed their profile location to Egypt and Google provided a realtime map of tweets and activity coming from Egypt.

Social Revolution Recipe

Internal—Communal knowledge, Organisation, viral messaging

External—Media outlet, external real-time understanding

Malcolm Gladwell: Small Change ‘Why the revolution will not be tweeted’

Weak Ties/Communal InformationSlacktivism

Metonymy of a revolution

Leaders or physical objects often represent a tangible thing for large groups to aspire to. Just as in Berlin, when there wasn’t a clear leader of the people (in driving them to the streets). In Egypt, there wasn’t a wall, but there was a visible dialogue.

"Our revolution is like Wikipedia, okay? Everyone is contributing content,but you don't know the names of the people contributing the content. This is exactly what happened. Revolution 2.0 in Egypt was exactly the same. Everyone contributing small pieces, bits and pieces. We drew this whole picture of a revolution. And no one is the hero in that picture."

"Our revolution is like Wikipedia, okay? Everyone is contributing content,but you don't know the names of the people contributing the content. This is exactly what happened. Revolution 2.0 in Egypt was exactly the same. Everyone contributing small pieces, bits and pieces. We drew this whole picture of a revolution. And no one is the hero in that picture."

Wael Ghonim

Influencing the MessageThe dance of leading a grassroots movement

Vietnam & US Military

Sock puppets & CensorshipInfluencing and blocking

Wikileaks & O'Keefe

We tend to measure the impact of wikileaks or O’Keefe by how much they upset our their target organisations. But their real impact is better measured by the rising social force mistrusting ACORN or the casualty expressed by governmental diplomats.

QUESTIONS

✤ What role should government play? Listening? Responding?

✤ How can we prevent mob rule?

✤ Is the right to communicate a universal right? Is shutting down the internet equal to free speech/public assembly?