During the 2008 Presidential campaign, such social networking sites as Facebook began to be more widely recognized as political tools, effectively enabling forms of dialogue between ordinary citizens and political hopefuls that had previously not been permitted through traditionally vertical channels of communication.
Beyond serving the top-down interests of political candidates, at the time of its use in the 2008 campaign, the social networking site was also recognized as a medium for ordinary citizens to engage in not only political dialogues, but also forms of protest.
This use of the site, as a medium for political protest, was revealed not only during the presidential campaign, but also continues to be revealed for instance, in the recent overwhelming responses shown by Facebook users to the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza strip.
While some may argue that protesting the Israeli airstrikes through a social networking site is not really protest at all, many who use the site like Yasir Omar of Camp Springs, Maryland, argue otherwise. In his view, Facebook has not only effectively modernized how young people protest but has also enabled millions to show their support and alliance with the seemingly lone state of Palestine.
“In the wake of the Israeli airstrikes, Facebook has become a valuable means for educating young people about the conflict and connecting like-minded local and international communities. It is no longer newspapers, televisions, or radios that define how young people can discuss, relate, and often times protest issues like the Israeli airstrikes. It is the computer,” said Yasir.
Amira, Yasir’s sister and a student at the University of Maryland, College Park, agreed with this point, saying that the site has enabled her to meet and discuss political issues with people her own age. “Until Facebook I never really thought of myself as a politically active person. I saw things in the news but felt so disconnected from the political process that I often became disengaged and disinterested. With Facebook however, I have found a way to take meaningful actions in support of causes that I care about deeply.”
Revolutionizing Protest
The 50’s,60’s and 70’s civil rights and anti-war protests are perhaps the most poignant point of reference for many older Americans for what the act of proper protest “looks like.” With however, new social networking sites like Facebook, protest, as revealed in the case of the Israeli Airstrikes, have been as Amira said, “given a facelift.”
So how are young people protesting the conflict in Gaza through Facebook? Well, in many, and often time creative ways, such as through status messages, notes, and most significantly through the formation of groups. Some of the groups that have been created in response to the airstrikes include, “Stop Israeli attacks on Gaza,” “Gaza is bleeding,” “Prayers for Gaza People,” and “Let’s collect 50,000 signatures to support the Palestinians in Gaza.”
Such groups have served to give Facebook users a voice that is often times not only discordant with mainstream news media sources, but also much louder than the uncharacteristically silent U.S government.
On this latter point, Yasir said, “While I am an American citizen, I do not agree with the U.S. foreign policies towards Israel. To let my Palestinian brothers and sisters that I am in solidarity with their cause I use my Facebook page.”
This idea that a Facebook page could serve to protest not only the recent actions taken by Israel but also to protest the U.S. government is interesting in that it reveals the radical potentialities of the social networking site.
It is through seemingly innocuous Facebook pages, that users like Yasir have managed to quite literally traverse across international boundaries in ways not permitted through traditional forms of protest.
While Yasir and Amira both argue that Facebook protest is, in substance, no different from the protests of yesteryears, they do admit that it is different in that it is in many ways easier, safer, and less time consuming.
The fact that to become “involved” all one has to do is sign a petition or join a group for instance has made it easier, safer, and less risky to protest, however is not viewed as a bad thing.
“Protest takes place at many levels of society and in ways that are both direct and indirect. The fact that millions of young people are taking part in online protests against or in favor of the Israeli airstrikes serves to further causes and to provide another means for political involvement,” said Amira.
While recognizing that Facebook is most often used by young people to engage in what has traditionally been understood as “indirect forms of protest,” he argues that the site is also a conduit for users to engage in more direct forms of protest. For instance, to “preach” the message to his 500+ Facebook friends, Yasir has posted news stories, and links to rallies held in the DC metropolitan area. Two such events that Yasir promoted through his Facebook site were the “Let Gaza Live” march, which took place on January 2nd and another vigil protest which took place on December 30th.
It is this possibility permitted through Facebook, of indirect protest taking more direct and recognizable forms, which is one of the greatest feats of the social networking site.
“To my knowledge, none of my friends are involved in political organizations, so finding out about rallies, or other forms of protest events were always very difficult for us, if not impossible. With Facebook, however, we have been able to learn about events more easily. I am thankful for that,” said Amira.
For more info: www.facebook.com
Comments
As a protester seasoned in the Vietnam era, I have to wonder about the claims that it is safer to protest online rather than on site, particularly when it is an issue that elicits the kind of emotions that this one does. Am I mistaken, or is the Patriot Act still in effect? How will such documentation on such a public venue as Facebook affect one's privacy, job prospects, admission to clubs, universities or political office be affected by such open declarations of belief? If I am not mistaken, George McGovern's Vice presidential running mate was shot down because he'd sought therapy for depression at an earlier point in his life. I shudder to think what such open declarations of sentiment will do to equal opportunity, when the likes of Desmond Tutu and Jimmy Carter get banned from speaking at any venues in which Israel or its minions have influence, just because they have spoken out against the social conditions in Palestine. I hate to throw a wet blanket on the campfire, but it's time to get real. When it comes to this issue, there is no such thing as a 'safe' venue for protest.
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