Role of Social Networks on Political Activism: A Case Study of Facebook Usage during Iranian Presidential Election in 2009

ABSTRACT: This research is based on political events before and after the Iranian presidential election in 12 June 2009, and the role of Facebook as a social networking website in this case. Facebook was utilized extensively by the Iranian people during the election and it was banned by the government just before the election. Facebook was mostly populated by reformists who were supporting opposition candidate, Mir Hussein Mousavi and the Green Movement. Many Iranians used Facebook during the protests after the election and their usage actually played a role in escalating the protests. Findings shows that the most important feature of Facebook was its sharing option that allowed individuals or citizen reporters to upload their material and share it, whether texts, photos or videos. This study examined Facebook’s political function and effects as a new medium utilized by ordinary citizens in new political affairs. The research concluded that social networking can foster the democratic roots of each society as well as assisting people to overcome media censorship and filtration. Key words: Cyber media, Social networking, Facebook, Politics, Citizen Reporters, Censorship. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………