#BlueforSudan
There is no denying how instrumental the internet has become in the spread of information globally. When a fortune or misfortune happens in any part of the world we get real-time information on what is going on. We stand in solidarity with countries we never knew existed unless they were mentioned in our geography books, on television or radio. Our mindsets are changing one post at a time. We no longer wait for scheduled news bulletins. This is how the internet has revolutionised the spread of information.
Of course, the speed at which information travels on social media platforms is both a good and bad thing. Bad, because of a lot of fake news, due to not being filtered or monitored. For example, Jackie Chan has been killed over 3 times now because of fake news. Good, because of real-time information from any part of the world and connecting with your family and friends wherever they are.
Social media platforms have expanded their scopes from keeping us connected with our friends and families and have unknowingly evolved to being a tool; for freedom of expression, seeking social change and monitoring elections. If anyone had told me 10 years ago that this is how social networks would be transformed, I would have called them mad. For example, in Sudan, a lot of the organising for the mass protests was done through online spaces such as; Facebook and Twitter. Their organising led to the ousting of their former president Omar Bashir.
The evolution of social media platforms into tools for freedom of expression/speech, and social change has led some governments into a frenzy because they cannot control netizens. This has led the governments to block some websites like Twitter, and Facebook or partially/fully shut down the internet especially; during mass unrest, political turmoil, protests and national exams, for them to maintain control over what information gets out of the country. In Africa, more than 6 countries have experienced partial or full internet shutdowns these are; Egypt, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, Zimbabwe, Uganda and more recently Sudan. The continent has had a total of 21 internet shutdowns. According to the Internet Society, internet shutdowns have huge economic impacts such as, “cost disturbing productivity and generating monetary losses in time-sensitive transactions”.
Do Internet Shutdowns work?
I am an avid user of Twitter and each day since the Sudan protests started in December 2018, my timeline has been flooded with updates on the protests in Sudan. Since 3rd June 2019, Sudan’s internet has been cut off by the Transitional Military Council (TMC) of Sudan. However, with the internet shut down, the posts have not been reduced. My Twitter page and Instagram pages are turning blue. I am sure you have also noticed yours turning blue as seen below
This is because netizens are expressing their solidarity with the protestors of Sudan since the killings began on 3rd June 2019. The internet is still rallying behind Sudan even though its government has shut off Sudan protestors from the world. However, we are still aware of what is happening in Sudan. Internet shutdowns cannot fix political and economic discontent and they will not stop protesters.
