Tunisia 2010 the immolation of street vendor mohamed bouazizi forces the resignation of tunisian president ben ali, dictator in power for 24 years. This was the first spark of an immense flame that changed the arab world and, consequently, the entire globe. Although globalization is often mentioned, concepts related to democracy, the internet or social networks continue to be normally associated with the great world powers and, rarely, with the countries of north africa and the middle east. The outbreak of a series of movements, which became known as the arab spring , focused on the importance of new technologies and the internet in the process of national liberation of oppressed peoples.
The changes wrought by new technologies in countries that once lacked freedom of expression are now undeniable. In the 21st century, we can say with certainty that the internet has changed – and continues to change – the world. A study by the university of washington analyzed 3 million tweets, millions of Phone Number List gigabytes of youtube videos and blog posts. The conclusion was illuminating: the contents that incited the revolution were much accessed or commented on in the days that preceded each event in the arab countries that were part of the famous arab spring. In this way, a cycle amplified by the action of the media began.
In the days after each demonstration there was a new boom in visits and all sorts of personal stories and moving descriptions of the protests appeared on the radios and televisions. The same reports were posted and disseminated on social networks and the internet , giving rise to new protests and fueling the indignation of civil society. People started talking about the extension of the exercise of freedom through social networks : after all, political activists were now able to get closer to power, exercising the denied right to democracy through the web. Seen in this light, the internet is a powerful weapon against totalitarian regimes.