Posted on 12/02/2007 7:36:26 AM PST by nuconvert
Young Iranians Turn to Texting
December 02, 2007
Parisa Dezfoulian
TEHRAN, Iran -- Every night, millions of young Iranians are engaged in subversive, and in some cases, scandalous activity. According to the country’s Mobile Communications Co., more than 20 million text messages are sent within the country every day, with the largest number of messages sent between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.
That’s when the youth in the country communicate with one another, often transmitting messages that would meet with disapproval of the authorities.
Using cell phones to send text messages has reached epidemic proportions in the country, creating an invisible but powerful social network that is all but invisible to the authorities.
It’s become the preferred way to conduct political and cultural discourse, filling the gap left by the dearth of free and independent media.
Political humor, much of it aimed at President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, makes up a surprisingly large percentage of the conversations.
One joke making the rounds this summer during the country’s gasoline shortage, read: “Ahmadinejad was asked what people without gasoline should ride on. He replied that they should ride on the 17 million who voted for him.”
The message was soon on blogs all across the country, and was even cited by the Voice of America’s Persian service.
Dr. Babak Khabiri, an expert on social affairs, says that text messaging is one of the few methods of expressing views and criticisms that has not been subject to restrictions.
“There is no need to conduct an opinion poll to keep a finger on the pulse of Iranian society,” he said. “It’s enough to collect and analyze day-to-day text messages.”
Text messages have also become an effective if unauthorized method of keeping up on the news, such as Ahmadinejad’s appearance at Columbia University
(Excerpt) Read more at winonadailynews.com ...
pong
Every night, millions of young Iranians are engaged in subversive, and in some cases, scandalous activity.
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they may be practicing unsafe text.
“they may be practicing unsafe text.”
Good one, and very true
Texting isn’t as anonymous as these youths assume. It is much easier to monitor and trace back to the user than voice or even email messages.
Samizat for the XXI century
Freedom finds a way ping
Well they can’t use the Internet except for sites approved by the regime, and if your site is inappropriate they shut it down. Yet they still have the tenacity to find a way around the system and make fun of the regime.
The Iranian youth, being forced to live under Ahmadinnerjacket, know how evil he is and what his country is really like, unlike some of these ignorant Westerners who post on his blog and say stuff like “you’re a great leader” and “I’m contemplating moving to Iran.” The young Iranians are also very pro-American in general, and were the only people in the Middle East to hold a candlelight vigil for the victims of 9/11. And instead of “Death to America” they chanted “Death to terrorists.”
In the pre-Jimmy Carter days, Iran used to be our ally. I hope someday the regime can be overthrown and they can get back on our ally list.
God, please bring these people to embrace love more than hatred.....the democrats as well.
You’re learning fast. :~ )
Despite all the regime’s efforts, they do find ways to gain access to the internet. And despite laws against satellite dishes, many people still have them.
“Texting isn’t as anonymous as these youths assume.”
They’re constantly taking chances and testing the limits.
Another FReeper mentioned that most of the sites they block are ones that require high-speed connections (Western sites mostly), and the computers have the connection speed pre-set on them before being put out for the public. So my question is, are Iranians allowed to have laptops? Since the laptops are likely American or Japanese-made, their connection speeds would allow Western and all sites to be accessed.
When we had our tour of Beijing in February, the tour guide, who was about 23 pointed to a statue of the people's hero in the square. Some student who stood up to the government 80 years ago. I asked her about the last big student demo with people facing down the barrel of tanks. She said she had never heard of it.
Still a long way to go in some countries.
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