Once the toothpaste is out of the tube, you can’t get it back in. That’s exactly what’s happening with the YouTube revolution. This fall’s issue of Foreign Policy Cyrus Farivar writes an excellent article on the “Net Effect of YouTube clones.” The written press and radio have been effective tools for getting the word out in the past, but as Xiao Qiang of the China Internet Project notes, “Visual Media has a powerful effect on [the] human psyche.”
China has got to be one of the best examples of how online video is starting to take effect on society. With so many people connected to the internet at informal internet cafés, videos spread like wildfire. Faivar mentions a powerful video where images from a mine catastrophe in western China with the Chinese national anthem playing in the background. This is the worst nightmare for the government for whom transparency could mean demise. Now it is out in the open and anyone with access to 6rooms.com can check it out (if the Chinese government hasn’t gotten to it already).
More countries are facing the same problem , but is it really reasonable to think this is going to work in the long run? On the other side of the coin is totalitarian Belarus. Instead of focusing on censoring what is being posted, they’ve simply tried to crowd out the market. The government has created itv.by, which looks just look YouTube, but tows the regime’s line. Likely to work? I think not.
An example of how a democratic government is using YouTube to its advantage is Ecuador. President Correa had welcomed YouTube and it using it to post all of his speeches, press conferences, and appearances. What a way to get around the national media, which is often owned by a small group of oligarchs with a highly politicized agenda. Check out his YouTube channel here: Presidencia Ecuador en YouTube
What does this mean for development community? Well, the best way to reach the masses to teach them abut economic and democratic reform is on the internet. If we can use it as effectively as these online freedom fighters, then we’re going to take a step in the right direction. Let’s get on board before we miss the boat. Here’s a quick list if you’re interested:
- Turkey: Izleriz.com
- Jordan: Ikbis.com
- China: 6rooms.com
- Belarus: itv.by
- Ecuador: Presidencia Ecuador en YouTube
Egypt and Tunisia have also been cracking down. If you know their “controversial” video websites let me know, and I’ll add them to the list.
Published Date: September 18, 2007