The Blog — Social Media
Digital Storytelling and Women
Since 2004, social media has grown to become a determining factor in the reporting of any story we come across. Without it, one wonders what might have happened over the last 16 months in the MENA region, or if the Arab Spring would have occurred at all.
Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, Reddit, Digg – social media is what brings many of us together. And despite the sweeping changes taking place in the Middle East, one thing remains the same: there are not as many women using social media tools as men.
The First Post After Filtering
An Iranian blogger known by the pseudonym, Vakil al-Raoaya, has a new post titled, “The First Post After Filtering.” Al-Raoaya’s blog had previously been targeted by filters, which the Iranian government frequently uses to block public access to websites that express criticism toward the regime.
Al-Assad Forces on Facebook
As expatriated Syrian activists use Facebook and other social networking sites to express their thoughts and keep in touch with Syrians on the ground, the Assad regime continues to harass them both in real life and online.
Pakistan Builds Web Wall Out in the Open
Many countries censor the Internet, but few spell out their intentions as explicitly as Pakistan. The government published a public tender last month for the “development, deployment and operation of a national-level URL filtering and blocking System.” Technology companies, academic institutions and other interested parties have until March 16 to submit proposals for the $10 million project — but anger about it has been growing both inside and outside Pakistan.
Facebook Profiles Reveal Young Women’s Obsession to Post Pictures of Body Parts
The following article was posted on arabnews.com on January 9, 2012. To view the original, click here.
Journalist Mariyam Jaber said she found several social websites where just the body parts of what appears to be Saudi women are displayed, such as feet, just the body or even fingernails, but without betraying her identity.
“This reveals a woman’s desire to liberate herself from social restrictions and express herself, and Facebook or other networking sites are the easiest platforms to achieve this,” she said.
The number of Saudis on Facebook is estimated at 2.3 million out of the 5 million in the Gulf. According to figures, 29 percent of Saudi Internet users visit Facebook and women under 25 account for 48 percent of all Internet users in the Kingdom.
“Most women on social networking sites use fake names. By displaying parts of their body and sometimes in glittering colors, young women must be achieving some sort of gratification or release of their emotions while anonymity guarantees them immunity from social censure or parental displeasure,” said Amal Al-Saleh, a university graduate. She added that many women prefer to present images resembling singers.
They display a passion for posting photos accompanied by minute details of their personal life on Facebook.
2011 was a BIG year
2011 was a BIG year for human rights and democracy activists using online and mobile technology for their movements and campaigns. Across Africa, MENA, Asia, and all over the world passionate non-violent activists have been able use Facebook, Twitter, Bambuser, Protest4, YouTube, SoundCloud, and more as a 'megaphone' to the rest of the world as they advocated for their rights. We are crowdsourcing the most inspiring articles, videos, and images from 2011 according to YOU! Using the hashtag #INSPIRATION share the memes that mean the most to you and we'll include them in our end of the year post.
Free Razan
Syrian blogger Razan Ghazzawi was arrested yesterday while trying to leave Syria via the Jordanian border. Razan was on her way to a conference in Amman about defending the freedom of the media in the Arab World when she was detained. Razan has a master’s degree in comparative literature from the University of Balamand in Lebanon, and she is the author of razanghazzawi.com where she defends freedom of expression. Additionally, she has been one of the few Arabic activists who advocates for the rights of homosexuals in the Arab World.
Nepalese Facebook campaign to improve the Bir Hospital
Facebook activists in Nepal are trading in politics for public improvements.
Facebook campaign calls for men to wear a hijab in support of women’s rights
Aliaa El Mahdy, an Egyptian university student, has created a facebook page called “Resounding Cries,” which asks Egyptian men to post photos of themselves donning the hijab (Muslim veil). Mahdy feels that it is unjust that only women are required to wear the hijab, which reflects the unequal status of women in Islam.
Interview with admins of ‘We are all Khaled Said’ Facebook page
Anver M. Emon, Ellen Lust, and Audrey Macklin interview Ahmed Saleh in Cairo and Nadine Wahab in Washington, D.C. about their experience as admins of the Facebook page which served as an information hub during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.
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