Iranians using Twitter to get news out

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Iran banned foreign journalists from covering election protests on Tuesday. The Iranian government has also shut down most social networking and video sites. But, Twitter has become the ray of light in the Iranian government's effort to keep its people in the dark.

"Anybody can get on and they can post anything they want as long as it's less than 140 characters," said Dr. Allison Harthcock, an Assistant Professor of Communications at Butler University.

Before Iranians started using Twitter, they used other popular social networking and video sites, such as YouTube and Facebook . But as unrest grew the Iranian government shut down access to those and the internet. Despite their efforts, Twitter continued. It continued because there's a technical way to get around the government's blocking of the internet.

Dr. Harthcock said, "It's perceived as non-threatening so I think that’s one of the reasons it's still allowed to be accessed."

She said it's likely the Iranian government under estimated the power of Twitter .

"On Facebook you can post news stories or longer essays that articulate more. You can post videos. With Twitter that's more difficult. The best you can do is post a picture," said Dr. Harthcock.

But if they under estimated Twitter at first, Indiana Senator Richard Lugar said the Iranian government is naive no more.

"I think that Ayatollah Kohmeni being a realist to the situation recognizes that perhaps lightening up a bit might be useful. That the young people now are sophisticated enough using Twitter and electronic means to communicate with the rest of the world. Even if there's a suppression of the normal press," said Sen. Lugar.

Suppression that is not likely to end anytime soon.

"We saw the Chinese government shut down Democracy movements and access to different Web sites. So it will be interesting to see if Iran keeps Twitter available," said Dr. Harthcock.

Can the Iranians shutdown Twitter if they want? A computer technician 24-Hour News 8 spoke with on the phone said absolutely.

But, for now, the Iranian government is willing to play a cat and mouse game with tech savvy citizens.

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