The Power of Social Media in the Egyptian Revolution

Youssef Awad, alumnus of Webster’s MBA program, gave a guest talk on the role played by social media in Egypt’s “internet-based” revolution.

Professor Sarah Grosso invited Awad to speak based on his own first-hand experience in Tahrir Square as part of a new topics course in the Media Communication Department that explores the power of social media.

Awad argued that social media played a role in enabling people of all social classes to participate in the Revolution “giving each person a voice in the Egyptian population.” Social media served as a catalyst motivating people to take part in the social movement gathered behind the common goals of “bread, liberty and social equality.”

Although the internet usage rate is only 21% in Egypt, the impact of social media led the government to close down communications shortly after the first revolution in January 2011.

The talk was followed by a discussion with the class that explored both the positive and negative experiences of Revolution.

Webster University and the Media Communication Department would like to thank Youssef Awad for this compelling intervention.