Name: How social media can make history
Uploaded: 2009-06-16T01:00:00Z
Duration: 15 min 30 s
Description: While news from Iran streams to the world, Clay Shirky shows how Facebook, Twitter and TXTs help citizens in repressive regimes to report on real news, bypassing censors (however briefly). The end of top-down control of news is changing the nature of politics.

While news from Iran streams to the world, Clay Shirky shows how Facebook, Twitter and TXTs help citizens in repressive regimes to report on real news, bypassing censors (however briefly). The end of top-down control of news is changing the nature of politics.

Clay Shirky: How social media can make history

How social media can make history

The Internet, supporting both group collaboration and conversation, marks a profound shift in media, challenging censorship.

China's response to the Sichuan earthquake, captured by citizens online, underscores the power of 'many-to-many' media dynamics.

Obama's engagement with supporters on myBO.com exemplifies the new media landscape's potential for direct, unmediated dialogue.