The Social Revolution

In recent months, we have been able to witness an incredible time in history, particularly in Africa where revolutions and protests are happening throughout norther part of the continent. As the first protests and revolts occurred in Egypt, the government shortly thereafter cut access to the internet throughout the entire country in an attempt to squash the revolts. Nevertheless, individuals around the world spread the word by creating long distance phone numbers through which Egyptians could dial in to access the internet and continue to organize themselves. It was this same social network that inspired revolts and protests in other countries in the region such as Libya and Syria.

The social aspect of the internet has expanded to such a point that it has become an integral part of our life allowing everything from overthrowing tyrants to simply sending out wedding announcements. Just as the invention of the printing press allowed the widespread sharing of both ideas and slander, the internet has both good and bad uses and will never reach a point in which the bad is eradicated. Nonetheless, the invention of the Internet is already being compared to past technologies such as the printing press. We will soon reach the point in which we will look at the internet with the nonchalance we look at the technology of a paperback book with today.