Tweeting Iran and social media responsibility
June 17th, 2009
The recent Twitter storm on the developments in Iran shows Twitter’s enormous potential for independent news and communication. But with great power comes great responsibility. At some point media attention dies out, and we all go back to normal business. What happens then to the people that are on the streets right now? I severely doubt that the big contender Mousavi stands for a much needed democratic change. Isn’t he just a better choice between bad ones? There may be a lot in store for the Iranians still.
I asked myself a couple of questions:
The events in Iran, and Moldova earlier this year, show that the social media support makes confontation much faster. Are we prepared to take responsibility for the speed of events social media seem to support?
Is there a way social media can support a longer process towards constructive confontation, or does it rather stay with the thrill of the clash?
What we can do in the longer run? Is there a ‘we’ that is able to organize an inclusive sustainable glocalized approach to support change in Iran – local activists and international actors alike? And is there a role for Twitter or other social media in it?