The Use of Social Networking Such as Blogging as a Means to Inform the Public

     Most blogs we have encountered thus far in Apple, Google, Facebook have consisted of our fellow classmates whose personal writing styles reflect the multitude of topics and sites we have been introduced to during class in correspondence to reflect technology’s impact on society. However, when branching out further to a more international level in regards to blogging, some might be surprised at the content in which they will be introduced to. An example of this consists of the "Egyptian Chronicles", which portrays a much different approach in association to social networking and overall blogging than what we have previously been familiarized with in class. The "Egyptian Chronicles" is the epitome of what a social activist’s blog might look like, or, rather merely consists of a blog in which one is trying to inform the general public about a strong issue going on throughout the world around them. An issue mainly focusing on the fact that the behind the scenes knowledge and true background information of the actions going on in daily life are not being revealed to the public eye properly or honestly.  Overall, the "Egyptian Chronicles" is a completely different use of a social media site than what I have been previously used to in regards to the social networking that has comprised of my life thus far.

 

 

Picture: The main target photo seen on display in capturing the central focus of the "Egyptian Chronicles" as seen on the site itself at http://egyptianchronicles.blogspot.com/2013/02/portsaid-day3-in-civil-disobedience.html#more

 

The “Egyptian Chronicles” may take on the same format and overall structural paragraph and graphical display that many of our blogs have exhibited throughout class, but an overarching difference can directly be portrayed within viewing the content of the “Egyptian Chronicles” for the very first time. Upon just entering the site, the first sentence one sees consists of the following statement: “Egypt that you don’t know.” After seeing this quote and later on being introduced to video detailing the life of a local townsman who was murdered, I quickly realized this blog wasn’t the warm and fuzzy inspirational blog about the impact of society that I was previously used to. The above statement merely implies that the general public is being lied to and the author’s blog would indeed go on to tell the people exactly how and when they have indeed been lied to by the government and reining authority figures surrounding the nearby area of Alexandria. Each and every blog has a purpose and takes on a specific perspective that the author wants to stress and truly highlight to their public audience across the inter-webs. Ultimately, the “Egyptian Chronicles” serves to be a catalyst for change in which the author is merely trying to educate the public to know and understand the rigorous circumstances and hazardous actions taking place all around them. She wants to inform people in hopes by doing so to initiate a physical means for everyone to stand up; if not for themself, to then make use of their civic duty and do so in standing up for someone else.

 

Picture: Zeinobia, the author of the "Egyptian Chronicles" herself.

 

Overall, just like each and every one of us, the author of “Egyptian Chronicles,” Zeinobia, is just a girl living with a goal she wants to work her hardest to accomplish and achieve. She states, “I am just and Egyptian girl who lives in the present with the glories of the past and hopes in a better future for herself and for her country.” Although the ultimate content of our blogs may infer a completely different perspective and serve a much different purpose, both Zeinobia as well as our classmates in the end are seeking to inform the general public about a key point they would like to be addressed and better understood overall. Although her content might be much more critical for public knowledge in dealing with life or death situations and sometimes hard to take in completely due to the severity of its nature, the same goal of informing the public results within both of our blogs.