Chapter 2: Claiming Technology For Democracy and Social Justice: An Approach to Educational Technology

New digital technologies have the ability to change the balance of power and extend voice to silenced populations. Groups that are isolated and oppressed are sharing their stories and being heard through the use of online and digital tools. The Arab Spring is one of the most well-known examples of this extension of power. Through the use of social media, faces and voices were connected with those experiencing political oppression in the Arab world (Howard, Duffy, Freelon, Hussain, Mari, & Mazaid, 2011). Social media continued to play a role throughout the uprising as individuals used tools such as Twitter and YouTube to put pressure on the government, while others wrote blogs sharing critical perspectives of the political situation. In the end, new media technologies contributed to extending the ability to politically engage in a more democratic way, while also increasing global awareness and engagement in the political situation. In this example, technology made way for voices of the oppressed, and the existing structure of power was disrupted. While the Arab Spring is a shining example of the power of digital tools and media, this type of emancipatory experience through the use of technology is not guaranteed. Just as quickly as technology can extend democratic opportunities, it can also silence groups and contribute to marginalization or oppression.