SOCIAL MEDIA IN THE MIDDLE EAST: Digital Or Cultural Divide?
As a Canadian who’s recently relocated to Dubai, the one thing I’ve noticed from a public relations standpoint is that the whole Web 2.0 phenomenon hasn’t exploded in the Middle East the same way it has in Europe or North America, regions where the media consuming public is much more likely to interact through social networks, read blogs or even conduct business online.
I can’t help but wonder why social media hasn’t proliferated itself as pervasively as it has in other societies, especially if you take into account that an estimated 65-70% percent of the population in the MENA region (Middle East and North Africa) is below the age of 30, a prime demographic typically consisting of early adopters, much more likely to be at the forefront of new trends, gadgetry and technology.
Furthermore, given the continued erosion of traditional media outlets and the increasing democratization of news and publishing, it surprises me to see that Web 2.0 and Social Networking has not been widely accepted as a strategic corporate function and therefore not playing a key role within the media mix of organizations operating throughout the region. One of the challenges facing these organizations is the lack of competent professionals with the knowledge and vision to capitalize on the opportunities that this new type of media can afford.
As of June 30/09 there were an estimated 48,000,000 internet users in the Middle East, growing at an astonishing rate of 1,360.2% in the period between 2000 and 2008. Despite these impressive facts, we do have to consider that in some areas, those who have access to the internet are a privileged minority.
So how do we explain this social media “gap” currently present in the Middle East? Is it a digital or cultural divide? What do you think?
