Whether it is the ‘Arab springs’, the so-called ‘yellow vests’ crisis, the protests in France prompted by pension reform and, even more so, the violent social upheavals that have been seen in France this summer, the authorities responsible for public order point the finger at the social networks, for being, as they see it, weaponized by protestors to aid in their action. At the same time, without those same networks, other initiatives, such as #MeToo or #BlackLivesMatter and a number of movements in favour of ecology and against violence against women would no doubt not have enjoyed the resonance they have.
But what are these social networks that are used today by almost five billion people across the world to express their viewpoints and passions, and to communicate with people whom they did not previously know? These platforms have become spaces which, like all new technologies, can be used for good or ill. Caroline Faillet, who has been following this question for almost 20 years, explains their virtues and failings and describes how they might develop in the future.
