[thousandautumns]

> It doesn't cease to amaze me how a few years ago social media was the beacon of democracy, back when they were part a wave of political revolution in the Arab world

Almost all of those revolutions failed or dissipated. Similar "social media driven" revolutions in the US, like Occupy Wall Street also died with a whimper. The enabling power of social media has always been greatly overrated. The effect of social media, and in particular Facebook, has largely been a net negative.

[jpster]

I find it surprising how much people underestimate the long-term impact of Occupy. Now when people say “the 1%”, everyone knows what they are talking about. The most popular Democrats, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, would not be where they are if OWS had not lain some groundwork ahead of time by introducing wealth and income inequality as mainstream conversation topics. And maybe they will have a successful presidential run in the future.

[aylmao]

In my country, the big media companies and the state are highly colluded. Social media has come as a welcome alternative for broadcast and dissemination of information by reporters who don't follow the state's agenda.

Independent and small-party candidates opposing the ruling party have also found in social media a vehicle to reach their constituents being they can't rely on the big networks. Social media has been used to make wrongdoings public, including during the election, and raise the public's awareness on stuff TV networks don't report.

I can't and won't speak in absolutisms, and I think you shouldn't either. IMO though, in my home country and in terms of political action and public awareness I disagree with you.