15 OCT, 2017<\/p>\n
DUBAI: The residents of the UAE turn to social media, to question the implications of the change in telecom services, Etisalat and Du, network names to \u201cUAE KSA TOGETHER.\u201d Which commemorates Saudi Arabia\u2019s 87th National Day anniversary on Wednesday the 20th of September.<\/p>\n
UAE residents had instantly noticed the change and automatically expressed their curiosity on social media. Multiple users questioning the reasons behind the change in the network names throughout the weekend of the occasion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was the only one whose carrier service name changed by mistake! I started texting all my friends,\u201d said Raveena Kriplani, a senior at the American University in Dubai.<\/p>\n
With a cyber sphere approach, the UAE lifted the spirit of the bond between the sister gulf nation, with an arabic trending hashtag, translated as \u201cTogether_Forever.\u201d The hashtag itself becomes a custom emoji of Saudi King Salman and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, as shown on Lovin Dubai. Providing residents with opportunity to express their solidarity on twitter.<\/p>\n
To mark this occasion UAE rulers also sent \u201ccongratulator cables\u201d via twitter, including The UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as stated on the Gulf News.<\/p>\n
The ties cut between Saudi Arabia and UAE with Qatar, have created an unwanted tension between the Qatari nationals, who previously lived in Dubai. As well as other nationalities who reside both in Dubai and Qatar.<\/p>\n
Questions arose as whether this may have been an approach to abide by the Saudi and UAE-drive campaign which aims to isolate Qatar.<\/p>\n
As stated on This Week In Aisa, the relations were cut \u201cdue to their support for \u2018terrorist\u2019 groups.\u201d As of late 2017, the campaign has been \u201cbuilding on an increasingly vicious cyber and media war against Qatar.\u201d<\/p>\n
A Digital Production student residing in Dubai, with family living in Qatar describes this forceful public engagement across a variety of platforms as \u201cquestionable.\u201d Yasmin Yasser expresses that their approach through social media allows young adults to become more engaged in the community. But, more or less \u201cdoesn\u2019t impact the way we feel about the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and the UAE.\u201d<\/p>\n
Throughout the conversation Yasmin also states that the change in network names could be seen as an expression of the ties between the two neighbors. Providing the public with information indirectly saying that the UAE \u201cis proud to be standing with Saudi Arabia.\u201d<\/p>\n
John Wihbey, an assistant professor of journalism and new media at Northeastern University, provides a meta-analysis of social media and civic engagement on Journalists Resource.<\/p>\n
Stating that social media is used as \u201cthe starting point or independent variable\u201d but cannot justify whether their is a \u201cdeeper cause\u201d or whether it has any political implications. It is \u201ca form of participation and engagement\u2026helping to shape public narratives and the understanding of public affairs.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to a report, by the Mohammad Bin Rashid School of Government, under Arab Social Report 2017, surveyed the young Arab region. Stating that young adolescents are constantly expressing their \u201csentiments or views on government policies or services\u201d online.<\/p>\n
Approximately 76% of the survey respondents would express their views through \u201cclicking on corresponding buttons when available, such as \u2018Like\u2019 or \u2018Dislike\u2019.\u201d But, approximately 85.8% would use platforms such as Facebook rather than Twitter.<\/p>\n
\u201cSeeing all the posts and tweets online made me feel proud to be a Saudi national.\u201d states Rahaf Jambi, a Journalist at AUD.\u201cI joined various festive events around the UAE, and it made me feel like I was celebrating at home.\u201d<\/p>\n
The UAE joined the spirit with, \u201cfireworks, airfare discounts, concerts, decked up streets and malls\u201d throughout a two-day celebration as expressed on Gulf News. Also, to share the celebration, concerts with Rakan Khaled and Balquees took place in Dubai on Friday and Saturday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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