Social Media bringing about real social change...

Despite the fact that Malcom Gladwell is a well known author in the area of social media I think he needs to get his head out of the clouds and start taking a genuine look at the world. He believes that social media cannot bring about real social change due to loose networks of people who don't know each other. However if you are to look at almost any event currently taking place around the world social media is taking a huge role in how things are progressing. For example the events that transpired in Egypt January of this year came to success not only from the will and determination of the Egyptian people but also from support around the world by means of social media. Now as a valid argument, could the Egyptian people overthrown President Mubarak on there own with no support from people around the world? Maybe. However it is very clear that due to the support for the Egyptian people coming forward thanks to social media, President Mubarak's control over the people of Egypt came to a swift and somewhat peaceful end.

This is not the first time nor the last that social media will bring about real social change on many levels. Even if you are to look back as far back as the '60's when the Vietnam War was in full swing media basically ended the war. Now at that point in history it was "the power of the press", and the concerned voices of American citizens who wanted an end to the bloodshed but in a way "the power of the press" has in fact in recent years become "the power of social media". The biggest advantage to social media is the fact that the coverage of events now are more deeply involved and the voices of people leading these changes are being heard worldwide.

So to sum up, I do believe that social media can and has and will have real social change. Its just up to the support and involvement people are willing to put forward to change.