John Green: Author of Paper Towns, An Abundance of Katherines and Looking for Alaska
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In Defense of Twitter

If you aren't on twitter, you really should be. Not because it allows you to keep up with the daily goings-on of Khloe Kardashian (although it does!), but because we are seeing for the first time what happens when a government that needs to control information to survive can't control information. Iranians are using twitter to organize, to share information, and even to discuss which routes to take to rallies to avoid confrontations with the police. Although foreign journalists have mostly been kicked out of Iran, we're still able to get pictures like this and this and this and this and this and this and this and this and this. And this, from Tehran University:



The police and the basij think they can shut down the Internet if they destroy the computers. (Actually, it looks like they only destroyed the monitors. I recall a similar mistake in Zoolander.)

The regime has more sophisticated ways of stopping the flow of information, but so far at least the Iranians on twitter have stayed remarkably organized, and they've found ways to vet information. When false rumors have spread, they've been quickly debunked.

So, yeah. Twitter is not about what you had for breakfast, or Khloe Kardashian, or me. It's about evening the playing field.

19 Comments:

At June 17, 2009 , Blogger Kiersten White said...

This strange interconnectedness offered by technology continues to amaze me. Yes, it can be incredibly banal and pointless, but it can also do so much good. Hooray for Twitter and #IranElection.

I just hope some permanent good comes of the Iranians' efforts.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Jessie said...

Thank you John! If it weren't for you and your sunday video I would have no idea what is going on in Iran like most of my acquaintances. I am now going to try harder to stay up to date on the happenings of the world.
DFTBA

P.s. I hope you do a blogtv show this week...they entertain me when i am hopelessy bored and unfortunately I missed the last two...

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Theresa said...

Thanks for keeping us informed through Twitter and your videos and blog... and giving us the links to those directly experiencing the situation. While CNN may broadly cover it for a few minutes before moving on to something else, we can stay more thoroughly connected and informed in other ways through real Iranian people going through this by way of Twitter and the like.

So thank you for pointing that out and not being just another apathetic, blissfully ignorant person of influence.

You rock, as do the people fighting for justice and standing up for their rights amidst threats and a corrupt government. My prayers are with them.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Bill said...

Twitter is just like the telephone. 99,999 calls may be pranks, pizza orders and "whazzups", but 1 in 100,000 is to 911, and that saves lives.

This is Twitter's call # 100,000.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Blogger valerie2776 said...

It's amazing how many organizations and groups have stepped up. Twitter postponing their maintenance, thepiratebay and anon providing safe, anonymous forums, and thousands of people around the world setting up proxies.

The past few days, I've done almost nothing but keep up with everything on twitter. It's ridiculously exciting and there's this weird, big feeling of pride and community and solidarity.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Vanessa said...

Thank you, John, the pictures being posted on Twitter are riveting. I am so proud that the Iranians are not keeping quiet and are using technology for their advantage.

Twitter FTW!

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am such a junkie for the Trending Topics. I've been watching this since it first started trending. It a little makes me proud of this generation and the technology it's given us. And it's been so amazing to see the world come together, being able to read tweets from people in Iran, and reading tweets that pass on information and proxies and pictures and video. Hopefully all of this will end peacefully.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Blogger Katie Marie said...

John, I feel like you're my teacher over the summer. I wouldn't know about any of this if it weren't for you, and I learn something new everytime I read one of your books.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Those pictures really shocked me. Especially the ones made in the university.
I am a student myself and quite politically active as well. Just the idea that the government here (NL) would do something like that!
I wonder what I would do in such a situation and I really admire the protesters.

Thank you btw for linking to all those twitterers (tweeters?) It's so good to hear things like this from the people themselves.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Blogger Sean Ferrell said...

Simply incredible. Sometimes events have a way of pointing out that history is what we are living.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Anonymous Jim said...

...and our President wants his own personal "off switch" for the internet "during a state of emergency". I bet the Iranian government would love to have that power right now.

http://tinyurl.com/ca2at2

 
At June 17, 2009 , Blogger Unknown said...

"The files are IN the computer!"

Thank you for sharing these pictures.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Blogger Charlotte said...

Thank you for this post, and for sharing those pictures. A friend's sister is currently posted in Tehran (with a diplomatic corps), and Twitter is the only way we can see what is happening in Iran.

I'm at a lost for what else to say, except to thank you again for using your powers for good.

 
At June 17, 2009 , Blogger james roy said...

Great post, John. And if the Zoolander comparison wasn't so telling, it would be funny.

 
At June 18, 2009 , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow, some of those pictures are really inspiring. This whole situation with the iranian election, while essentially very bad, has given me a great sense of hope. I mean, 85% voter turnout, that's amazing! And all these people getting so involved,a nd caring so much about their country. We could definitely take some tips from them.

 
At June 18, 2009 , Blogger Nicholas E. Kinports said...

Alright the Zoolander reference was just great!

I just referenced this activity in my article from an advertising perspective.

http://admaven.blogspot.com/2009/06/everyone-hates-social-media.html

 
At June 18, 2009 , Blogger Becky said...

I agree- thank you for opening my eyes to what is happening over in Iran. Your twitters made me aware!

 
At June 18, 2009 , Blogger Pies said...

Upgrading Iran to LCD screens, one university at a time.

 
At June 21, 2009 , Blogger Jorge I. Figueroa F. said...

WHat people that finds twitter stupid is stop following the stupid friends they have or the douchebags like Ashton Kuthcher.

Twiiter is as good as your networks is

 

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