What is #Iranelection in Twitter?
Posted on June 30th, 2009
With the continuous news blackout on what is happening on Iran, international media sources such as CNN, MSNBC and even Fox News, the well known fair and balanced news provider have sorted in the use of internet’s dependable source of the reaction of people to the issues all over the world, the tweet. The recent weeks were no different. “#IranElection†has been the top trending topic and hashtag among the twitters.
Iranians who supported the opposition went to protest Ahmadinejad’s victory claiming hoax during the election. With the protest occurring on the streets in Iran, the news blackout was implemented to all the independent news company. Only the state-owned media company is allowed to cover the news but only within their country. Iran Election became the number one topic on twitter because it has only been the form of communication and source of news with what is happening to Iran that was not strained.
With the belief on the right to protest and to speak freely, the US government supports the use of twitter. The US government is sensitive with the role of social media forums such as twitter to revolution. They even encourage the free flow of dialogue. During the crucial time, according to senior officials, the State Department requested Twitter to postpone going down to undergo scheduled maintenance. Instead, they requested Twitter to make sure the continuous operation of the site.
The senior official explained that the Twitter announced that it will go maintenance and will be shut down, but they asked them not to do so. He exclaimed that at this moment, Twitter is an important means of communication not just for other people but for the Iranians who are greatly affected by what is happening.
Technology now is being used in keeping peace and social networking. The State Department is advocating the increase usage of technology through text messages and web videos, for reaching people who are difficulty to reach, with a real world example of the situation that is happening in Iran.
