The Role of Social Media in Changing Media

Abstract

Media theories and studies have provided many diligences on the concept of social media and the circle of influence, including the theory of social marketing which deals with how to promote ideas espoused by the elite in a society to become a recognized social value. The emergence of social networks provided a revolutionary breakthrough, taking the media to unprecedented horizons; and giving its users great opportunities to influence and move across borders without restrictions and censorship, except in a relatively limited manner.

So, the emergence of social media has created channels of live broadcasting from its audience in a method of development that changes the essence of the known communication theories; and stops the monopoly of the media message industry to convey it to a broader and more comprehensive range, with an influential and interactive capacity that communication experts have not imagined.

Therefore, the reform and change movements in our Arab and Islamic world are invited, today, to take advantage of the internet revolution to the maximum extent in the fields of organization, administration, communication, media, political struggle and other aspects of life. Can we understand the historical significance of the internet revolution?

Referring to the international experiences in the cases of “Tunisia and Egypt”, the media, according to the social marketing theory, raises awareness among the public - through media campaigns that aim to intensify knowledge to modify behavior by increasing the information sent - to influence the targeted sectors of the public. The media, as well, supports media messages by personal contacts; and continues to present messages in the means of communication. Then, the public becomes interested in the formation of a mental image through information and ideas. Right here, the contactor seeks to form that mental image to link the subject with the interests of the public and its aspirations.

In a later step, the organizer begins designing new messages to reach more specific behavioral outcomes as an instance making a decision. Then, it comes the stage of creating specific events to ensure continued interest in a topic, and cover those specific events on the level of media and masses. Afterwards, it is time to urge the public to take an exact action expressing the idea by advocating the adoption of ideas in which communication messages are focused.

As a result, who makes the change? 

The question that must be answered after the repetition of the Tunisian scene in Egypt and the expansion of the “Atlas of Arab Popular Uprisings” is: Does the media play a supporting role in social change by strengthening the public sphere?