The Role of the Social Media Website "Facebook" in the Process of Political Change Egypt as a Model

The Arab world in late 2010 and early 2011, has witnessed several political upheavals. Although unexpected, they took place in a rapid and influential manner. For the first time in modern history the Arab people resisted their governments and were able to achieve their goals and aspirations. They were able to gain some freedom through popular revolutions and managed to topple several totalitarian and authoritative regimes; regimes which have ruled them for decades. The sequence of events and the means used by the Arab peoples in these revolutions are very much influenced by social networking websites. Social networking websites have played an essential and effective role in these revolutions or so-called "Arab spring". These websites altered their use from merely as a means to make friends and build relationships to unite people and influence revolutions. Social network users managed to develop these sites for their benefit, as activists expressed their political views, sharing their living conditions with the world. This has affected the change that is now seen in the Arab world. The objective of this study, using an analytical method, is an attempt to discover the role these sites played and how they managed to be the spark for the revolutions. This study aims to address the most prominent aspects which have turned these sites and in particular “Facebook” into political tools used to influence developments. It aims to discover how internet activists, who spend a significant amount of time behind their computer screens in chat rooms, discussed revolutionary ideas to turn their cyber struggle into a revolution with thousands of people pouring into the streets, leading mass protests. The study, consisting of eight chapters, discusses the political, economic, and social development in Arab countries, along with other factors that have contributed significantly in creating a general climate of popular uprisings, and gradually giving rise to the concept of political change. This study highlights the stages, means, and the ways in which information technology and the internet, along with the emergence of new tools, such as electronic media, and new media, have managed to be a significant aspect in the revolution. In regards to the Egyptian revolution, beginning January 25th, 2011, this study gives an in depth insight into the sequence of events and their causes (direct and indirect), characteristics, stages, and highlights both political and social gains, as well as the role of Facebook in creating the atmosphere which sparked the revolution. This study also highlights important factors, such as corruption and torture in prisons along with the prevalent detention centers and their relationship to these events. It also addresses statistics of the internet and Facebook in Egypt before and after the revolution, and how the Egyptian regime attempted to suppress the revolution by cutting off communications and persecute activists. Finally, this study also comments on the direct role played by Facebook, in particular the creation of pages such as “We are all Khaled Said" in being an element of the first spark for the revolution. This study attempts to explore the role that social networking sites play in the future and their effect on the level of political change. This study aims to highlight the tangible and important role of social networking sites particularly in terms of promoting democratic values and respect for human rights within the Arab world. This study concludes that many factors have played a significant role in shaking the dust coma of the Arab people and allowed them to rise up against the ruling regimes, which have long been described as, "repressive". However, while many factors have played a role, what is undeniable is the role of technology and its rapid development in particular network sites and their effect on the revolutions that the Arab world has recently witnessed. If globalization was able to convert the world into “a small village”, Facebook was able to convert the world into "a small room".