Twitter mobile restored in Cameroon

Last week, in a move that echoed social media censorship in Cameroon, the government ordered MTN - a major mobile phone operator in Cameroon - to suspend Twitter mobile - locally known as Twitter SMS. The suspension of Twitter mobile was widely criticized by Twitter users at home and abroad. One week after the suspension, Twitter mobile has been restored in the sub-Saharan country.

The restoration of the service in Cameroon was announced on 18 March 2011 on Twitter, when the official Twitter page of Twitter Mobile was updated with the following tweet:

"Twitter SMS service on MTN Cameroon is live once again! New users should send START to 8711 to sign up."

In closed totalitarian and highly censored societies, Twitter is instrumental in sending out information. In Egypt for example, during the recent pro-democracy demonstrations, twitter was widely used by protesters to organize and share information and pictures with the rest of the world.

In countries where press censorship is the order of the day, Twitter is a cherished service which gives oppressed people a unique opportunity to freely express themselves and share uncensored information with the rest of the world.

Over the years, the 28-year-old regime of Cameroon has been widely criticized for press censorship and imprisonment of journalists, hence the suspension of twitter mobile was perceived by many as another attempt by the regime to stifle free expression and any possible attempt by the growing number of anti-government activists to organize online.

It is worth mentioning that Twitter SMS was suspended two weeks after government forces brutally quashed peaceful anti-governmnent demonstrations in Cameroon's economic capital. A Cameroonian blogger described the suspension as a government bid to "insulate itself against digital activists."

The restoration of Twitter mobile in Cameroon is welcomed. People have the right to freely express themselves or peacefully organize through any available means - without government interference.

Share

Tweet

Wedding Gone Bad: Twitter and Facebook at the Altar

Nowadays, people tweet and facebook all the time. This happens while driving, while giving birth, after giving birth, while in the operating theatre before going under the knife, you name it. But I have never though that it would happen in church; during a wedding; before kissing the bride. Has social networking gone too far?

I read a story that fascinated me and I thought it wise to share with my readers and maybe get some perspectives.

A bride and groom in Maryland, interrupted their wedding ceremony to tweet and update facebook. The bridegroom, Danna Hanna, before kissing the bride, paused to type: "Standing at the alter with @TracyPage where just a second ago, she became my wife! Gotta go, time to kiss my bride".

What's your take on this story. Do you think social networking has gone too far or it's cool? Personally, I think it's cool. :) It's cool so long as no one gets hurt.

Below is a video of this much talked about wedding ceremony:



From the above video, it's my opinion that it was staged. What do you think?

Share

Tweet

How to Add a Twitter Button to Your Facebook Profile

When I started blogging, I promised myself that anything I learn, my readers would learn. That's exactly what I'm doing.

Today, 29/11/2009, I learned how to add a Twitter Button to my Facebook profile. It's a great thing to do if you're active on both Twitter and Facebook and want to spread yourself between the two networks. In order to add a Twitter button to your Facebook profile, you need to follow the 4 steps below.

1. First and foremost, you need to get a twitter button (see picture of my button above). Click here to get a button. Be sure to follow the instructions on how to customize the button so that the code that would be generated represents your Twitter account. The main thing you have to do is to put in you twitter username in the top box on the Twitter buttons page (for example, twitter.com/...............).

2. After you've chosen and customized your button, you need to log into your Facebook account. On the bottom left corner of your Facebook profile, you'll see APPLICATIONS. Click on it, a menu will show up and on the menu, you have to click on BROWSE MORE APPLICATIONS. Then type in "extended info" in the Search Apps box and search.

3. Click on EXTENDED INFO. This will take you to the Extended Info Facebook page. While on this page, click on "Go to Application" (below the profile picture). Make sure you Allow the application. When that is done, a box will come up.

4. Copy the code that was generated below the Twitter button you selected. Paste the code in the box that came up when you completed Step 3 above. Click "Save Changes" and then "Add to Profile". DONE!!

Check out my Facebook profile here. You're welcome to add me as a friend (if we're not yet connected).

If you have any questions on how to add the Twitter Button to your Facebook profile, leave a comment below. I'll respond to your question within 24 hours. I'd also like to know if you successfully added the twitter button. :)

Share

Tweet