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The buzz in the news this week is that social networking websites are aiding Iranian protesters in their demonstrations against their government. Though the Iranian government has forbidden anyone in the country from posting content that “creates tension,” officials have been largely ineffective in their efforts to crack down on updates from activists directed to the international community. Sites like Twitter, Flickr, and Facebook have allowed for pictures, videos, and stories of the Iranian government’s oppression, and have led some people to call this the first genuine Twitter Revolution. Noam Cohen from The New York Times, however, has argued that despite Twitter’s success in connecting Iranian civilians to the rest of the world, the service’s trustworthiness can often be compromised in a number of the ways.

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Discussion Questions:

1.  Why is the Iranian government having such a difficult time cracking down on content posted to social networking sites like Twitter?

2.  In regards to this recent crisis, why should we be hesitant to trust the content on sites like Twitter and Facebook?  Should the news be showing pictures and video posted by unknown users?

3.  What impact might these images and stories have on the situation in Iran?  Will the government’s efforts to censor content prevail, or will protesters re-energize the movement against the election results?