Twitter, Facebook, and the Arab Spring. Which doesn't belong? Philosophy masters student Anthony Adams investigates.

Social media helps us stay connected with friends and family. Whether we use Twitter, Facebook, or other outlets, social media is obviously becoming an increasingly prevalent medium of communication throughout the world.  But does it have effects beyond allowing us to share photos and chat with our friends? Following the revolutionary events of the Arab Spring, many scholars contend that social media helps revolutionaries communicate with each other throughout the Arab world.

Philosophy masters student Anthony Adams, however, believes that such involvement is overstated. According to Mr. Adams, because social media outlets advertise to generate revenue, it benefits them to associate their names with revolutionary activities. Accordingly the “Facebook Revolution” and the “Twitter Revolution” were branded. Mr. Adams’s research shows us that social media usage was not as important as it seemed. Usage rates were limited in each country studied, preventing effective communication between protesters. Moreover, Arab Spring events have been shown to be distinct from country to country. Each group had different methods and goals that were exclusive to that group, causing Mr. Adams to further question social media’s role in the spread of  Arab Spring events.