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Arab Internet users most politically outspoken worldwide
14-12-2012
Al-Akhbar:
Arab users of social media are the most politically vocal on social networks worldwide, despite less access to the Internet, American think tank the Pew Research Center revealed Wednesday.
A survey of 20 nations regarding Internet and social media usage found that networkers in Middle Eastern countries were almost twice more likely than average to discuss politics than in other countries.
The survey results give considerable credence to near-worldwide consensus that the Internet, and social networks in particular, were major driving forces in protests that have swept the Arab world over the last two years leading to massive overhauls in governance. Four Arab dictators were ousted by the protests.
While a world-wide median 34 percent of social network users said they shared political views online, the numbers rose to 60 percent and above for respondents in Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan.
More than seven out of ten polled in these countries also said they used social media to discuss community issues.
Over 60 percent of Arab respondents said they talked about religion on social networks, with the notable exception of Lebanon, where only eight percent said the same.
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