Social media reactions as Mubarak steps down
Voices from Tahrir Square, Cairo – “I am Egyptian … proud to be Egyptian.”
I have been monitoring Egypt protests since January 27, curating tweets and photos and even placing a special category called “Egypt Protest” here.
Finally tonight….Mubarak steps down. Cheers break out in Cairo’s Tahrir Square as the announcement is read on television that President Hosni Mubarak has decided to step down.
Now things get really interesting as the post-Mubarak struggle for power begins. Power to the People.
On CNN, Wolf Blitzer was interviewing an elated Wael Ghonim, the Google executive and demonstration leader whose arrest and captivity galvanized the uprising. Blitzer asked, “first Tunisia, now Egypt, what’s next?” Ghonim said “ask Facebook.”
The demonstrations that began on January 25 were fueled by social media, and Ghonim said “I want to meet Mark Zuckerberg one day and thank him, actually.”
Ghonim added, “this revolution started online. This revolution started on Facebook.” Ghonim said without social media–supporters sharing videos and messages on their Facebook walls–the revolution in Egypt could never have moved so fast. “I always said, if you want to liberate a society, just give them the internet.”
Ghonim told Blitzer it was the empowering nature of the internet and social media that gave protesters the ability to overcome the Egyptian government’s ability to control the media, which he says worked effectively for decades. Ghonim says he will write a book about it all, called Revolution 2.0.
I am happy for you Egypt. The work towards regime change, and democracy is just beginning. It is so easy to get caught up in euphoria but note of caution may be in order: a military coup is not the same thing as democracy.
Just the same, congrats Egypt for 18 days of hard work !!!!
Photos and twitter reactions:
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About The Author
Noemi Lardizabal-Dado
Noemi Lardizabal-Dado is a Content Strategist with over 16 years experience in blogging, content management, citizen advocacy and media literacy and over 26 years in web development. Otherwise known as @MomBlogger on social media, she believes in making a difference in the lives of her children by advocating social change for social good. She is a co-founder and a member of the editorial board of Blog Watch . She is a resource speaker on media literacy, social media , blogging, digital citizenship, good governance, transparency, parenting, women’s rights and wellness, and cyber safety. Her personal blogs such as aboutmyrecovery.com (parenting) , pinoyfoodblog.com (recipes), techiegadgets.com (gadgets) and benguetarabica.coffee keep her busy outside of Blog Watch. Disclosure: I am an advocate. I am NOT neutral. I will NOT give social media mileage to members of political clans, epal, a previous candidate for the same position and those I believe are a waste of taxpayers' money. I do not support or belong to any political party. I was part of accredited media covering the Office of the Vice President and Leni Robredo as she ran as a presidential aspirant in the 2022 National and local elections. On August 5, 2021, YouTube announced that I was selected as one of 50 Program participants of its Creator Program for Independent Journalists She was a Senior Consultant for ALL media engagements for the PCOO-led Committee on Media Affairs & Strategic Communications (CMASC) under the ASEAN 2017 National Organizing Council from January 4 -July 5, 2017. Having been an ASEAN advocate since 2011, she has written extensively about the benefits of the ASEAN community and as a region of opportunities on Blog Watch and aboutmyrecovery.com. Organization affiliation includes Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation Updated June 6, 2022