Manuel Castells is a Spanish sociologist concerned with research on the information society, communication, and globalization. His works and published writings mostly deal with the origins of the network society and how introduction of information technology to the world has brought about both positive and negative changes among the society. Moreover, Castells maintains that the information age can unleash the power of mind and dramatically increase the productivity of individuals and access to information. In his book "Networks of Outrage and Hope: Social Movements in the Internet Age," he immediately talks about one of the most fascinating issue of our times: the sudden rise of mass uprising across the world, their political force, and momentum. Castells' work contains a wide variety of movements from Iceland and Tunisia, from the Egyptian Revolution to the Arab Spring, from the Indignadas movements in Spain to the Occupy movements in the States. And somehow, he magically links them to important information on their cultural diversity and context specific struggles.
Throughout history, there have been numerous revolutions whether it be social, cultural, political or religious. However, the number unsuccessful revolutions highly outweigh the number of successful revolutions often because the government has too much power or the revolution lacks support. Manuel Castells argues that revolutions in the present day tend to be more successful than those in the past because present day revolutions have much more momentum, social awareness, and power. Movements nowadays begin on the internet social networks and spread by contagion in a world of wireless communication, mobile media, and the viral exchanges of images and content. The internet has created a space of autonomy where individuals across the world can freely support and participate in events that are happening on the other side of the globe. Furthermore, Castells believes that the internet have become the material support of a new type of political participation, a participation that is based on horizontal networks, on political autonomy, and personal interest.
Castells goes on to comment that modern revolutions involving social media are much more powerful than past revolutions which were easily ceased by violence and control of the government. Despite the fact that modern day revolutions, such as the one in Tunisia, still involve some violence, are much less extreme because the internet network enables rapid spread of informations and governments tend not to expose their downsides to the public. The protestors share their thoughts and ideologies through the social media which then main massive support from the international community. When the government's acts of violence towards its citizens were streamed straight to the world through the internet, there is no way of stopping people from gaining access to such content.
While there are significant advantages of using the social media as a medium of gaining support, I do believe that there are some drawbacks. Posts on the SNS (social network system) often lack sufficient information, and sometimes mislead users to believe in whatever they're given. Although it is definitely necessary to support and fight for a just cause, blind support and uneducated opinions are discouraged. Overall, I believe that Castell effectively presented both cons and pros of using the internet to aid social development. From this point on, it is the decision of the consumers of media to determine what's right and what's wrong.
Throughout history, there have been numerous revolutions whether it be social, cultural, political or religious. However, the number unsuccessful revolutions highly outweigh the number of successful revolutions often because the government has too much power or the revolution lacks support. Manuel Castells argues that revolutions in the present day tend to be more successful than those in the past because present day revolutions have much more momentum, social awareness, and power. Movements nowadays begin on the internet social networks and spread by contagion in a world of wireless communication, mobile media, and the viral exchanges of images and content. The internet has created a space of autonomy where individuals across the world can freely support and participate in events that are happening on the other side of the globe. Furthermore, Castells believes that the internet have become the material support of a new type of political participation, a participation that is based on horizontal networks, on political autonomy, and personal interest.
Castells goes on to comment that modern revolutions involving social media are much more powerful than past revolutions which were easily ceased by violence and control of the government. Despite the fact that modern day revolutions, such as the one in Tunisia, still involve some violence, are much less extreme because the internet network enables rapid spread of informations and governments tend not to expose their downsides to the public. The protestors share their thoughts and ideologies through the social media which then main massive support from the international community. When the government's acts of violence towards its citizens were streamed straight to the world through the internet, there is no way of stopping people from gaining access to such content.
While there are significant advantages of using the social media as a medium of gaining support, I do believe that there are some drawbacks. Posts on the SNS (social network system) often lack sufficient information, and sometimes mislead users to believe in whatever they're given. Although it is definitely necessary to support and fight for a just cause, blind support and uneducated opinions are discouraged. Overall, I believe that Castell effectively presented both cons and pros of using the internet to aid social development. From this point on, it is the decision of the consumers of media to determine what's right and what's wrong.