Mbeki is misinformed
It is common knowledge that social media platforms have become a place where the world meets and where ideas can be shared.
Former president Thabo Mbeki says Twitter is not appropriate for discussing knowledge meant for the betterment of society. Speaking at the University of Stellenbosch Business School to officially open the knowledge management conference, Mr Mbeki went on to say he was sceptical about Twitter being a great conveyor of reliable knowledge.
Although Mr Mbeki’s thoughts are valid to a lesser extent, I am afraid he is absolutely misinformed. Whilst everything said on Twitter should not be taken at face value, one cannot deny the fact that the social media site has given the majority of citizens a voice and a space to exercise their democratic right to engage in conversations that can build a nation. The former president seemingly is no friend of the Internet as a whole.
“Even the internet in general, blogging and so on, is not the place where you can… put all these things under theories,” Mr Mbeki said.
It is quite ironic that Mr Mbeki said all this during the officially opening of a knowledge management conference. It is common knowledge that the Internet has become a great repository of information. It is also common knowledge that social media platforms have become a place where the world meets and where ideas can be shared. Remember how the Arab spring took off? Social media played a central role in the ousting of dictators such as Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi and Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak. Social media will arguably play a much more important role in unifying and building these Arab nations and hence leaders such as Mr Mbeki should be embracing social media and the internet.
(Ed’s note : You can re-tweet this story to ensure Bekezela won’t be misquoted, perhaps Thabo Mbeki will follow the debate? Perhaps not.)