Kavanaugh, Andrea L.Yang, SeungwonSheetz, Steven D.Li, Lin TzyFox, Edward A.2013-06-192013-06-192011-05-01http://hdl.handle.net/10919/19409In this paper we examine the use of social media, and especially Twitter, in Iran, Tunisia and Egypt during the mass political demonstrations and protests in June 2009, December 2010 - January 2011, and February 2011, respectively. We compare this usage with methods and findings from other studies on the use of Twitter in emergency situations, such as natural and man-made disasters. We draw on our own experiences and participant-observations as an eyewitness in Iran (first author), and on Twitter data from Iran, Tunisia and Egypt. In these three cases, Twitter filled a unique technology and communication gap at least partially. We summarize suggested directions for future research with a view of placing this work in the larger context of social media use in conditions of crisis and social convergence.application/pdfenIn CopyrightHuman-computer interactionTechnical reportTR-11-10http://eprints.cs.vt.edu/archive/00001149/01/journal_paper.Kavanaugh_et_al.social_media_middle_east.pdf