Question

1. In Egypt, why was the Mubarak regime's efforts to shut down social media after protests began not successful in preventing further protests?
2. Why was availability and use of social media critical to the Arab uprisings?

Answer 1

Hosni Mubarak was longest serving president after muhammad Ali Pasha who ruled Egypt for 43 years. He ruled Egypt for more than 30 years with iron fist. In his regime people were afraid to talk about politics. People were loosing all their rights, corruption was everywhere. No one really want to work for the country. The oppression,the bad economic environment,the bad public services,the unemployment actually no one in the regime was hearing the suffering of public. The revolution was actually made by the upper middle class Egyptian youth, very intellectual,well educated. The last 10 years of Mubarak's regime are the worst days of people's lives.The economy system changed from centralised economy to privatised economy.Every aspect of life was deterirorating. The police had unlimited powers for any uprising the mission of police change from serving and protect the people to serving and protecting t.he. president.police brutality was overwhelming,they tortured the people and they detained anybody in accordance to emergency laws.so the people didn't know how to express their anger.so when the revolution going on the people set most of the police stations on fire and take revenge on police.Anger of people as it's boiling point.Every citizen have some reason to come on the street against regime.Thousands marching against poverty, economy, unemployment and the government that they hold responsible,the message was loud and clear enough is enough. On the first day of revolution People were doing protest silently . But police don't like that idea they started pushing them . These young people raise their voices and more people started to join those young people. Police and security forces used ammunition , tear gas, bulldozers on protesters.Hundreds of people died and thousands are injured in revolution. These are the main reasonfor successful protetpeven after shut down of media.

Social media play a significant role in any uprising.it shares the information to people and is crucial in organising a core group of activists , specifically in Egypt. Social media also connect the people to the rest of the world . In the case of Tunisia a fruit and vegetable seller from Sidi bouzid had set himself on fire on December 18th and suddenly reaction on twitter were exploded following the #sidibouzid . Photos and videos showing police abuses , gunfire. As the message went viral protests brokeout across the world showing solidarity with Tunisia and then revolution begin. As in the case of Egypt government shutdown the social media but due to this act the protest provoke. These examples show us that the revolution doesn't happen overnight. In Arab countries social media sets a base for uprising.