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Discussion of the political impact of social media has focused on the power of mass protests to topple governments. In fact, social media's real potential lies in supporting civil society and the public sphere -- which will produce change over years and decades, not weeks or months.

FIVE centuries before Facebook and the Arab spring, social media helped bring about the ReformationRead on: How Luther went viral, from our Christmas edition

Summary: Do the tools of social media make it possible for protesters to challenge their governments? Malcolm Gladwell argues that there is no evidence that they do; Clay Shirky disagrees.

Social media provides huge opportunities, but will bring huge problems