IDS 403 Project
Student Full Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Full Title
Instructor Full Name
Due date
, 2
IDS 403 Project
The Arab Spring can be termed a series of uprisings and protests in the Arab world, beginning in
2010 and ending in the forthcoming years. To be precise, the rebellions across the area, irrespective of
their consequent developments, have shared much regarding their profound motivations (Ozekin &
Akkas, 2014). Their motivation was the establishment of democracy in their states and the abolishment
of authoritarian rule, which had been significant in the regions. Technology played a significant role in
exposing the atrocities of dictatorial rule experienced in the region. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter,
YouTube, and other independent platforms were paramount tools that showed experienced massacres,
corruption, and lack of political freedom in an attempt to uncover the reign of most Arab regimes.
The self-sacrifice of Mohamed Bouazizi triggered the Arab Spring. He was a street vendor based
in Tunisia. His death was caused by the harassment and humiliation from the local officials, who had
been targeting small businesses. The nation had been faced with serious corruption, unemployment,
and political atrocities that all people were feeling. The death of Bouazizi was the beginning point of the
Arab Spring uprising. Pro-democratic protests followed in Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and other Arab world,
commanding political changes and better freedoms for the Arab populations.
The significant technology for this event was social media. Social media is a very available
medium for numerous people to be political activists, especially for those who feel they do not have a
voice, i.e., those with transportation restrictions, those who cannot leave their households, and those
with plentiful free time. Social media offers an exceptional podium for users to show unanimity with
political groups, report unswervingly on contemporary and ground events, and share evidence and
needed resources (Dewey, 2016). In the Arab Spring, social media platforms were critical in showing
what was happening on the ground as well as counteracting the misleading information provided by
government-controlled media.
Social media has had a significant influence on culture and society in general. It has eased
communication while connecting the globe to great lengths. Also, social media provides an excellent
channel for information dissemination. Through citizen journalism, the various social media platforms
have extensively shared information globally. Social media has led to cultural exchange as well as
increased the influence of given societal trends. It has been an excellent tool for political influence.
Lastly, social media has influenced business and commerce through marketing and advertising. These
are just a few ways social media has influenced culture and society.
The social sciences lens is critical in analyzing human behaviors as influenced by various factors.
You can analyze human behaviors, social interactions, and societal structures through social sciences.
First, the case study is based on human behavior after experiencing a given influence that stirs up their
rebellious aptitude. The death of Bouazizi stirred up acts of rebellion fueled by social media. Also,
through social media, different cultures could interact and share ideas on what they must do on the
political front. These interactions were critical in forming the current societal structures governing
people in the Arab nations. Through the lens of social sciences, we can learn how social media had an
impactful effect on the Arab Spring.
Thesis Statement: Through the lens of social sciences, this discussion will deliberate on the role and
influence of social media in the events that molded the Arab Spring.