Net Freedom Fighters and the Digital Age Revolution

One only need look to the revolution in Tunisia, sometimes called “the Jasmine Revolution,” to see how technology, the Internet, and social media are changing the progression of political transitions in the 21st century.

It would be naïve to think that the Internet and social media sites were the reason that any of these revolutions occurred. All of the necessary elements for unrest were there, including economic concerns and repression. Technology, however, allowed for a timely exploitation of those elements, enabling opposition to unite and act more readily. Technology has also afforded the global community a view that was heard of, but until now unseen. In a world where millions of people are still oppressed and government corruption is rampant, Internet access is paramount. But even in technologically advanced countries like the United States, there are still millions of people without access – let alone the rest of the world. Let us hope the whole world can become digitally connected so we can all move toward a brighter future.