Worldmaking

Social media has not only been at the core of major protest stories, but drove some of 2011′s biggest news, from Occupy Wall Street to the Arab Spring. Digital tools such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook have defined this year’s social movements by giving rise to a new generation of activism. In 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign was touted for its social media prowess. 2011′s stories of online mobilization share a common thread, differentiating them from the U.S. President’s election effort: grassroots organization by average individuals. (via 9 Social Media Uprisings That Sought to Change the World in 2011)