Tutlub

Katie Collins, cnet.com, Muslims seek safe haven in Tutlub social network " Tutlub, which means "to ask" in Arabic, stands in contrast to the fear that social networks have become recruitment tools for extremist groups such as ISIS. Instead, the social network is a place for Muslims to discuss their faith, seek guidance and read curated content. Hassan also wants the site to monitor and counter the spread of propaganda."

Chattanooga

Rita Katz, SITEIntelGroup, Information about the Chattanooga Shooter is Disappearing from the Internet "Abdulazeez did what jihadists are asked to do prior to execution of their attacks: delete important information that could provide insight into their networks. Jihadi recruiters often advise prospects to “delete your social network accounts or stay inactive,” as well as “all the nasheed [Islamic chants], videos, pictures, messages” prior to their attacks or migration to jihad."

Khamenei: No online chatting between sexes

Latest fatwa from Iran: No online chatting between sexes | Fox News: "Online chatting between men and women on social networks is forbidden under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's latest fatwa, delivered ironically enough on his website in answer to a question sent by email. The top mullah's reasoning is that such contact could eventually lead to activities prohibited by Islam."

The Online Project, Social Media in Ramadan

The Online Project, Social Media in Ramadan "Ramadan has a significant impact on people's behaviors and daily routine in the Middle East. In this report, we've explored the impact of the Holy Month on social media in the MENA region; specifically on Facebook and Twitter." PDF, available in Arabic and English.

Ummaland

twocircles.net, Ummaland: A Social Network for Muslims "Launched on 1st of February 2013 by friends Maruf Yusupov (Design and Strategy) and Jamolidding Daliyev (Backend Programmer) and Mahmudjan Memethaji (Frontend Developer), Ummaland.com is a social network for Muslims, trying to enable the community to become more united and productive. In an Interview to TCN’S Shaik Zakeer Hussain, Maruf explains the need for an online platform exclusively for Muslims and more." I shall track this one with interest.

Protests over Currency Bring Crackdown in Iran

Protests over Currency Bring Crackdown in Iran - WSJ.com "Calls for nationwide strikes and more protests filled Iranian blogs and social-networking sites such as Facebook with one blogger saying, "given the regime's weak economic spot, any movement on our part could deliver a big blow.""

KSA social media

Chuck Holmes, NPR, Change comes to Saudi Arabia, in slow motion, May 21, 2012 " ... [But] many Saudis think the game-changer is — and will be — the effects of social media. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have meant that men and women can mingle online.

"On the Internet, like-minded Saudis can discuss common issues of concern to them."

'Angryarabiya' arrest

byshr.org, Bahrain: Arrest of Prominent Cyber Activist due to a Demonstration Against the Formula One and Human Rights Violations "Ms. Zaynab Alkhawaja – a 27 years old Cyber Activist, better known as Angryarabiya on twitter.She was arrested yesterday (April 21, 2012) after Sit in the middle of the road which leads to the Circuit Bahrain Formula One."

'Another face of Internet Islam'

Ayesha Shahid, dawn.com, Another face of Internet Islam "From the hotness of the new mehram in a girl's life to saying no to a potential date, online chat rooms and blogs deal with religion and twenty-first century issues in an appealing manner."

'French attacks could inspire next generation of terrorists: Expert'

CNN, French attacks could inspire next generation of terrorists: Expert, 21 Mar 2012 "Merah, the suspect in the French killings, is a supporter of radical Islamist group Forsane Alizza, the Knights of Glory, France's Interior Minister Claude Geant said. "Gohel [Sajjan Gohel, director of International Security at the Asia Pacific Foundation] said the organization, which has members in Paris and Limoges in central France, acts as an "antechamber towards terrorism," encouraging its followers to go abroad for training. ""Before it was banned earlier this year, it had posted a chilling warning on Facebook, encouraging its followers to attack Americans, Jews and French soldiers," said Gohel. "Unfortunately, that threat seems to have been carried out in recent days.""

Salamworld - build-up continues

IINA.me, Turkey/Internet: ‘Muslim Facebook’ plans to be launched in Istanbul “in Ramadan   11 Rabi al-Thani/ 4 March (IINA)- "Described as a “Halal Facebook,” the new social networking phenomenon, Salamworld, set to hit the Muslim world during the fasting month of Ramadan, will create an Internet platform for Muslims of all ages. The headquarters of the company are located in Istanbul.”

 Will be following this one closely - although currently undergoing social networking overload …

Citizen journalism

Bikya Masr, How the Arab Spring has transformed journalism "When what was expected to be a small protest in Cairo’s Tahrir Square became massive and nationwide, journalists inside and outside Egypt were unprepared." Talk by former director general of the Al Jazeera news network Wadah Khanfar at MIT.

Riyadh forum highlights role of social media

arabnews.com, Riyadh forum highlights role of social media, 24 Feb 2012 "The impact of the social media on the Saudi family, both in terms of its positives and negatives, was the theme of the first session of the First Riyadh Social Forum held Tuesday."

Salamworld's ambitions

Hurriyet Daily News, First Islamic Facebook aims to create ‘halal’ field for Muslims “The first global Islamic social network, called ‘Salamworld,’ aims to prevent the ‘haram’ content of Western social sites and has a target of 50 million users in five years. The network held its first global summit in Istanbul”

'Fesbuk'

AFP/Dawn, Welcome to Indonesia – the ‘Fesbuk’ country, 2 Feb 2012 "With even cheap cell phones in Indonesia sold already bundled with Facebook applications, for many, “Fesbuk” – as it is written in the national Bahasa language – simply is the internet."

Halal food controversy in Australia

www.humeweekly.com.au, What a whopper: spat rages over halal burger claims, 2 Feb 2012 "The social media campaign against Hungry Jack's stems from claims that the chain's Tullamarine store was issued with a halal certificate by the Islamic Coordinating Council of Victoria in December that sanctioned a number of its chicken and beef burgers as halal."

'Islam, John Locke and the future of the internet'

MEED, Islam, John Locke and the future of the internet, 31 Jan 2012 "Business leaders spoke out at the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority’s annual summit, but had little to say about the latest storm over the internet."

Jan 25 - how Egypt's bloggers see the revolution one year on

Guardian, Jan 25 - how Egypt's bloggers see the revolution one year on, 25 Jan 2012 "Three bloggers who have documented Egypt's revolution online share how they covered events in 2011 and tell us what the anniversary of 25 January means to them." One of a series of articles relating to social networking and Egypt.

'Revolution 2.0' - Wael Ghonim book

NPR, Social Media Advances 'Revolution' In Egypt : NPR "Egyptian cyber activist and former Google executive Wael Ghonim talks to Steve Inskeep about his new book Revolution 2.0, which chronicles his role, and that of social media, in the toppling the regime of Hosni Mubarak." Look forward to reading this sometime.

"Facebook Un-Islamic"

The Jakarta Globe, Facebook Un-Islamic, Membership a Sin, Iranian Ayatollah Says, 7 Jan 2012 "ISNA on Saturday broadcast coverage of the response of Ayatollah Lotfollah Safi-Golpaygani, a senior cleric, to the question about Facebook and Iranian membership in the social networking service.

"“Basically, going to any Web site which propagates immoralities and could weaken the religious belief is un-Islamic and not allowed, and membership in it is therefore haram [a sin],” the ayatollah replied."