The role of social media during the 2011 Egyptian revolution : A real catalyst, or merely a facilitating factor?

On 25 January 2011, the world was witness to a civic protest movement unprecedented in Egypt’s history that, just 18 days after its start, managed to overthrow President Hosni Mubarak after his 30-­year-long autocratic rule. Who would have thought that the killing of a young man from Alexandria, Khaled Said, in police custody, would soon after lead to a well-­orchestrated civic uprising? Who would have thought that the force of civic activism would turn out to be stronger than police brutality and autocratic state power? Spurred on by earlier events in ­ T unisia, which had led to the ousting of President Bouazizi, Egypt’s citizens, who were crippled by high youth unemployment, social inequalities, and a poor economic outlook – were determined to fight for better living ­ conditions. But while doing so, many lost their lives