the Role of Netizens in the Political / Social Changes in Egypt and Tunisia

Considering the importance and position of citizens in political and social developments on the one hand and the emergence of a new type of citizenship, i.e., netizen, and the formation of virtual society as an undeniable reality on the other hand, this study examines the relationship between netizens and socio-political developments focusing on their role in setting the stage for developments in Egypt and Tunisia. It also pays attention to the place of living things in the future developments in the Middle East.

This research is based on descriptive and analytical methods and while using library resources, documents and related information of websites and dedicated reports, has collected and reviewed databases.

Studies show that according to the socio-political conditions of Arab societies and countries, especially the governments of Egypt and Tunisia, the status of Netizens, as a result of the development of information and communication technology and the emergence of small and large virtual communities, have played an effective role in shaping change. They have had socio-political issues in these countries and the most important stage of their role-playing has been the formation of the online public sphere.

In a situation where Egypt and Tunisia were struggling with various political, social and economic problems in the shadow of totalitarian governments, but due to weak civil societies, change in these countries was not foreseen for years; But the role-playing of netizens in the context of information technology has created the conditions for 21st century activists to open up with open-minded public spheres based on the facts of society, sharing pain, creating synergies, and political debate. The closed, authoritarian regimes and their artificial public sphere, which emerged from the state media, provided the conditions for the formation of the revolutionary movement and socio-political developments.