Twitter and Tear Gas is a book that focuses on the impact of the development of new technologies on activist movements. The primary argument is that the author highlights the advantages of the utilization of the Internet in protests while recognizing some of the limitations that arise due to excessive use of the technologies.
Tufekci (2017) utilizes the framework developed by Amartya Sen to determine the capacities required for the success of social movements. The author notes that a movement must have a capability to influence the narrative, disrupt the operations, and introduce political changes. Social media networks increase the influence of social movements because such platforms help to deliver the necessary information about these capabilities to both authorities and the general public. Activists often attempt to develop techniques that help to overcome censorship, and the Internet may be viewed as one of the most useful tools in such situations. The author notes that the Internet allows individuals to instantly share pictures and videos with other people all over the world. Hence, the global community is more likely to provide support in case of emergency. One of the issues that should not be overlooked is that governments also have recognized the impact of the Internet and often employ censorship to silence activists (Schell, 2014). Authorities also may attempt to divert the attention from protests by covering various events or policies. The situation is challenging because authorities are more influential than protesters and corrupt governments may attempt to deceive the general public. Tufekci (2017) argues that the issue is that social movements organized via social networks often lack leadership and may be incapable of the development of effective strategies. Moreover, social movements that focus on the Internet are unlikely to have access to the mechanisms that allow them to negotiate with the authorities. Therefore, protesters should determine the correct balance between real-world protests and Internet protests to maximize their influence and effectiveness of activism.
In summary, the analysis of the book suggests that the author wants to explain the advantages of the utilization of the Internet in protests. On the other hand, she recognizes that such approaches have limitations and social movements must be aware of complications that may arise due to the lack of leadership and coordination.
https://www.twitterandteargas.org/
