If You Think You Understand The Role Of Social Media In The Arab Spring Uprisings (And Particularly If You Don't), Watch This Video...

 

This video is an hour long and, frankly, I didn't think I would have the time this morning.  Started watching nonetheless and became riveted by one of the most cogent explanations of the role of social media in activism I have heard.  Even if you disagree (and this is not my area of expertise so I hope those that do disagree will do so in the comments so we can all learn), it is well worth the hour it takes to watch.

(Many thanks to my friends at Sharp for this!)

Strengths And Weaknesses Of The Great Firewall Of China (The Atlantic Monthly)

James Fallows over at the Atlantic Monthly has done an excellent article on the Great Firewall Of China called "The Connection Has Been Reset". He finds many weaknesses with it (apparently it is easily circumvented) but finds that the major strength of the Chinese effort to censor the internet is the social pressure -- the chilling effect -- it creates. Definitely worth the read.