Using Facebook to its full potential

When some of us think of Facebook we think of the seeing updates from friends and family. However, this social media outlet is doing something for the greater good of society. In Cairo, Egypt is where We are all Khaled Said came to life. The human rights page came to life after Khaled Said was taken out of an internet café and beaten to death in Alexandria, Egypt.

It was believed that Said had evidence of police officers dealing with drugs. The officers denied it and claimed that he was involved with drugs. They also falsely claimed he died after swallowing a bag of marijuana.

An article in the New York Times showed how police made the wrong decision in fabricating the account of Said’s death. Had this atrocity occurred without Facebook a simple press clipping would have appeared about Said’s death. The press clipping would have most likely taken the police departments statement and no justice would come about.  Videos and photos from the assault showed that they were lying and put behind bars. This sparked the Egyptian people to not only share pictures of abuses but to fight the injustices of the government.


This example shows that how reporting can operate without restrictions. We as a society are allowed to see the whole truth and nothing but the truth. This can hold those who have some form of power. By not having the reigns of government censored television or a media conglomerate this type of citizen journalism can help inflict change.

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