Social media use during political crises: the case of the Gezi protests in Turkey

Abstract

This chapter examines aspects of digital activism with particular reference to and examples from Iran, where cyberspace came to be seen as a unified, unproblematic and un-segmented site of resistance. One of the significant outcomes of the myth of the role of social media in the Iranian uprising was to confuse, or perhaps even substitute, media for the movement. In contrast to the virtual and real attacks and threats against the Stealthy Freedom campaign by Iranian state officials, media, and supporters, the overwhelming feeling outside Iran has been one of support, solidarity, and encouragement. The Stealthy Freedom campaign has to be seen as a continuation of the challenges, concerns, and anxieties over hijab in Iran. This concern has been expressed, produced, and reproduced in different forms. Despite the massive support for the 'Stealthy Freedom' campaign, it has also generated different forms of backlash and criticism.