Is social media just another means to communicate – a modern and efficient form of post and telephone – or something different in kind? That social media is being heavily used by protesters to communicate is without question, but the extent to which it is genuinely rejuvenating political protest has been challenged.

Governments are clamouring for influence, and as broadband use expands it is likely that state agencies will play a more influential role in deciding what web users can access. Whilst government censorship in countries such as China has been criticised in the Western press, many other countries have also banned certain website content.