Do You Use Social Media? Too Bad, You Are Now Evil
September 2, 2016
An ignorant understanding of social media can yield many humorous results; that is, grandparents who do not understand how to use Facebook or Twitter. It can also, however, lead to consequences more dire than the average Facebook user imagined. The International Business Times reports that “Zimbabwean Government Brands Social Media Users As ‘Cyber Terrorists’ And Reiterates Threats” is taking things too far The media is prone to create sensationalism around events that tend to be more mild. In this case, social media activists who take to Facebook, Twitter, and other channels to voice their disproval of the Zimbabwean government are labeled terrorists.
In the United States, we take our right to freedom of speech, for granted and the Zimbabweans are protesting the current government. Zimbabwe cracks down on any civilian demonstrations, but the country is now in the most provocative civilian movement in recent years. The leader of the moment, Pastor Evan Mawarire, has fled for his life and sought asylum in other countries. The Zimbabwe government is calling all Mawarire’s supporters “cyber terrorists”:
“On Tuesday (16 August), information minister Christopher Mushohwe warned that online activities are being monitored and that the government would deal with activists working with ‘Diaspora cyber-terrorists.’ ‘They must be warned that the long arm of the law is encircling them,’ he told press in Harare. ‘There are people who are now in trouble because they thought Mawarire was their leader. Where is Mawarire now?’ the minister said, in reference to #This Flag’s figurehead’s US stay.”
The Zimbabwe government is also saying that the current civil unrest will result in a war similar to what is currently happening in Syria. Social media is simply the tool Zimbabwe activists are using to pressure their government into making changes and to communicate their message.
Anything that be used to spread the activists’ message would be deemed as “terroristic” or “evil” in the eyes of the government because it is undermining their power. Do I hear a comparison of China’s limitation on information as well as North Korea keeping its citizens ignorant? The Zimbabwe protestors are not terrorists and social media is not only a communication hub.
Whitney Grace, September 2,2016
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