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From Virtual to Real: Social Networks Impact on Inter-political Climate of Armenia

Freedom of information dissemination on the internet has become a topic of discussion throughout the world, including Armenia, especially after social networks started to be used for raising protest waves.

Head of political developments research center, political scientist Vahan Dilanyan considers the Internet and the social networks to be “necessary, but not sufficient” tools to result in the Egyptian «domino effect» in Armenia.

The speciaist has formed such an opinion after drawing parallels between the Facebook users’ number in Armenia and in Egypt. It turned out that Armenian figures (4,5 percent) do  not so much differ from the Egyptian indices (6,8 percent). In both countries the majority of Facebook users are young people – between 18 and 33-year-old.

“These facts can become a challenge towards Armenian authorities for the history and the present situation show that exactly the youth becomes the gear of changes,” says the political scientist.

“It’s not the same situation in Armenia. We have no problem of blocking or unblocking the internet. If something is blocked, the negative energy gathers and explodes. I’m not a supporter of blocking, I support the proper use of Internet,” says Eduard Sharmazanov, a deputy for the ruling Republican party.

Freedom of information dissemination on the internet has become a topic of discussion throughout the world, including Armenia, especially after social networks started to be used for raising protest waves.

Head of political developments research center, political scientist Vahan Dilanyan considers the Internet and the social networks to be “necessary, but not sufficient” tools to result in the Egyptian «domino effect» in Armenia.

The speciaist has formed such an opinion after drawing parallels between the Facebook users’ number in Armenia and in Egypt. It turned out that Armenian figures (4,5 percent) do  not so much differ from the Egyptian indices (6,8 percent). In both countries the majority of Facebook users are young people – between 18 and 33-year-old.

“These facts can become a challenge towards Armenian authorities for the history and the present situation show that exactly the youth becomes the gear of changes,” says the political scientist.

“It’s not the same situation in Armenia. We have no problem of blocking or unblocking the internet. If something is blocked, the negative energy gathers and explodes. I’m not a supporter of blocking, I support the proper use of Internet,” says Eduard Sharmazanov, a deputy for the ruling Republican party.

The deputy accepts the increasing influence of Internet but does not think that it is possible to raise a wave of revolution through it, like in the Arabian world.

“You can have as much Internet as you want, but without reasons it’s difficult to start a revolution. Why does one have to make a revolution in Armenia? The government in Armenia is the most revolutionary, in good sense,” says the Republican deputy.

Besides, he thinks, the result of the Internet revolution is not inspiring. “Well, the revolution in Egypt is over. What got better? Again the power is in the hands of the same generals. Again the ministers are the same people appointed by Mubarak. This is the negative energy which has to explode. I mean, there’s no need to keep people locked. If you lock some one, he seeks to release,” explains the Republican deputy. Though he is does not support the Internet limitation, Sharmazanov is not against if there is, as he says, “ethics of using Internet”.

“Any sphere has to be regulated, and we have to do everything to achieve the culture of using Internet. The government is for regulating every sphere, otherwise there will be anarchy,” says Eduard Sharmazanov.

Permanent member of Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Committee of the Parliament Republican Artak Zakaryan assures that there is no any law regulating Internet at the moment. Though he does not exclude that in the future there can be discussions on regulations of Internet issues. And as a result of these discussions it is possible of adopting some laws.

“This does not mean control,” says Artak Zakaryan and adds, “For a normal user it is unpleasant to see incorrect and immoral expressions.”

That is why the representative of the party reasons the necessity of a certain rule for using Internet, when “the providers will be obliged to secure quality and easy access.”

 

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Source: JNews.am