If I tweet about a revolution does that make me a revolutionary?
The internet is always abuzz with the next big social media revolution. People are idealising the role technology has in the revolution, condemning it’s role and status, or claiming it as a mere tool of revolutionaries. But the main point is, it *is* being discussed.
In my opinion, using terms like “Twitter Revolution” or “Facebook Revolution” are actually making revolutions seem lesser. The actual definition is
There are people who risk their lives daily to revolt against what they deem to be unfit conditions, and then there are people on Facebook who share a photo with their social network.
There are genuine cases where social media has been instrumental in the start, progression or distribution of a revolution. Malala’s Blog and story has actually been ‘revolutionary’ in the international fight for women’s rights. Twitter spread information and aided in the planning of the Arab Spring demonstrations. Facebook and other social platforms accelerated the international awareness and involvement in the Egyptian uprisings.
But the problem is people are using ‘revolution’ too easily, too simply. People are using the term revolution for internet ‘karma’ on Reddit, to get likes on Facebook or get retweeted on Twitter. Social media is promoting how great social media is. I guess I am just a cyber-realist. I can see how it can help, but far too many of my Google search results for ‘revolution’ were not revolutionary by my standards.
Attributing the term ‘revolution’ to things that are not revolutionary de-values those that genuinely are.
Emily J. Musing 
I agree that social media can often overshadow the activists on the ground and the rights that they are fighting for. Social media might be getting so much air time and credit because uprisings, like those in the Middle East, have never been so well documented and so globally communicated before, and it is Social media that has allowed for that. It probably also doesn’t help that the platforms used, like Twitter and Facebook, are owned by Western countries (who certainly like to take credit wherever they can
). I hope that what revolution means to so many is not demeaned by those who aren’t there on the ground fighting for what they believe in.
I too believe the word ‘revolution’ is misused. I like to think social networking platforms are a tool for people power and that this is the driving force behind these examples of activism. Check this out: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/occupy-wall-street-return_n_3942436.html.
[…] than six months ago I wrote an article called “I have problems with the term ‘Twitter Revolution’.” And I really did. I thought that calling the role of technology in distributing information […]