With the rise of mobile communication technologies and internet users, there arises a significance in analyzing their impacts on the livelihood of citizens in a democratic nation. This essay aims to verify the proposition made by Best (2013) that social media and mobile technologies are essential ingredients in peacebuilding efforts.
Technology-assisted communication has led to an enhanced democratic world. It has been a solution for several nations who have experienced extreme problems especially in electing their leaders. Ushahidi is an example of a software solution designed to curb election conflicts and was composed in Kenya after the 2008 post-election violence. This has worked in many nations and is usable in the future. Aggie is similar software that manned the 2011 election crisis in Nigeria by analyzing the social media content posted by citizens. It helped to ensure a free and fair election as well as assisting the police to calm places where violence had erupted (Best, 2013). This form of communication is also efficient in situations where governments air information selectively in their chosen media. In this case, activist and other fair-minded citizens can share instantaneous information and their views on the same (Sayed, 2011).
Social media is also a channel used to invoke political changes in a government. It not only gives users the motivation to share their views but it gives them the power to share the information fearlessly. Strikes and demonstrations can be schemed online and offline using social media. Such a strategy was used to mobilize the Egyptians against President Mubarak on Jan 25th when he was forced to vacate the office (Sayed, 2011).
In conclusion, mobile technology and social media are powerful instruments that can be used to monitor the government and its agencies. It is a platform where activists thrive in making political changes. It should thus be handled with care, and any right-minded person should not use it in spreading rumors that can trigger ill action. All people should be responsible for their actions.
References
Best, M. L. (2013). Emerging Markets Peacebuilding in a Networked World. CommunicationS of the ACM, 56(4), 30-32.
Sayed, N. (2011). Towards the egyptian revolution: activists’ perceptions of social media for mobilization. Journal of Arab & Muslim Media Research, 4(2 and 3), 273-298.
