Portfolio: Bachelorarbeit
2011; Bachelorarbeit TU Wien
The Role of Online Social Networks in Political Uprisings
This paper gives an overview of what online social networks are, what they are used for and how communication via such networks works. The focus lies on Facebook and Twitter since those two played a major role in big political events around the world in the past 3 years. Five of those events are described in more detail and analyzed in relation to the use of social media. A low degree of separation and small world phenomenon seem to help people in organizing, coordinating and spreading news about social happenings efficiently. But also the negative side-effect of online social networks like being some kind of walled gardens as well as censorship-issues are discussed.