Does new technology or popular media inspire revolutionary activity?

Answer 1

Many people say yes, but others are not so sure. There are certainly people who use the popular media (Twitter, Facebook, etc) to network and remain informed about what is going on in the world. In some countries, new technology has absolutely helped people to organize demonstrations and protests, or send out messages to journalists or upload photos to YouTube.

But on the other hand, in some countries, the government can easily shut down the internet, making it more complicated for dissenters to communicate. Further, in some countries, only the very rich or upper class have access to the internet. So, while it is true that revolts in Egypt and Tunisia were advanced by people who were able to use the internet, the majority of the population did not have access. They took to the streets and protested with or without social media. It definitely can be shown that popular media like Twitter (or even older media like radio) can inspire and motivate a group of people, or help them to plan and organize; but it is also true that in most countries, revolutions are brought about by many factors, not just social media.