Change for Iran: How Twitter Has Made a Difference (Example 3,461)

There has been another spate of commentary belittling the place of Twitter --- usually through a misunderstanding of social media, activism, and politics --- in the post-election crisis in Iran. Often the analysis has come from "experts" who have had no involvement in the use of Twitter. Indeed, they have had no apparent interaction with those who have used the medium to follow events, disseminate information, and maintain links despite the efforts of the Iranian Government to cut off communications.

Amidst this commentary, I read this entry posted last week on "The Contrapuntal Platypus" from a person whose experience of Iran was changed by Twitter, and by one particular Twitter user from inside the country, in June 2009:

To the tweeter known only as @Change_for_Iran,

….You’ll probably never read this.

I don’t even know if you’re still alive, although more than a year after you tweeted for the last time, I continue to pray for your safety. I don’t know if you’re still in Iran, or were forced to flee as many students were, or perhaps lie imprisoned somewhere in the depths of Evin. I can only hope against all odds that you are safe.

Today is 18 Tir (9 July), the 11-year anniversary of the brutal 1999 invasion of the student dormitories. I find myself thinking of you today, because it was your tweets the night of June 14 [2009]  –-- the night history repeated itself and students were again attacked and killed in their dormitories –-- that brought me to #iranelection and to the Sea of Green.

******

I had been following the leadup to Iran’s 2009 election for weeks before on various news outlets: the buildup of support for Mousavi, the crowds of people –-- both young and old, male and female, religious and secular --– all wearing green, the color of hope. The unpredecented voter turnout on election day. The excitement and anticipation for a new future: one of tolerance and openness rather than repression and secrecy.

And then, of course, the result, hastily announced and incomprehensible. The backlash of disbelief and shock. Then the protests began, building day after day.

As the crisis escalated, I read on The Guardian website that the best sources of breaking news were the Iranian students posting updates on Twitter. I was intrigued, but held back from investigating first-hand. It was, I vaguely sensed, something that I could far too easily spend hours doing. Besides, I had always heard that Twitter was a pointless, egotistical social medium, good only for navel-gazers intent on telling the world what they had for breakfast. Far better to get my updates sifted through the convenient filter of a news website.

Until the night the dormitories were attacked. Then I knew I couldn’t bear to remain at a “safe” distance any longer. I had to see the confict as it unfolded for myself.

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