Social Media, Politics and Democracy

From politicians to publications, political parties to rights organisations, everybody is going the social media way. Some use it to assert themselves and their views; others find it to be a useful platform for promotion. Social media, especially Twitter, has become a good way of gauging mass reactions to major events – local and international. Increasingly, social media is being used as a platform to engage with others on matters of public importance, advocate for causes or get a sense of public opinion on various issues.

Many a times, classified information has made its way into the public domain. While on the one hand social media has played the part of a great democratiser, on the other, those whose positions it threatens move to impose blockages and bans.

Newsline brings you a selection of articles and blog posts published on social media and its impact on politics and democracy.

Going the New Media Way…

Follow the Leader: Politicians Take On Social Media (December 24, 2011)
This Month in Tweets (November 30, 2011)
The Guy who Liveblogged the Osama Raid Without Knowing It (May 2, 2011)
Ten Great Tweets after Mubarak’s Non-resignation Speech (February 2011)
The New Media Revolution (January 31, 2011)
Pakistani Writers and Bloggers React to Salmaan Taseer’s Death (January 5, 2011)