The most striking image from last weekend's demonstrations in Moscow against the regime of former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is that of protesters holding up iPads and iPhones over their heads, broadcasting the momentous events live over the Internet.
The sight of young Russians, bundled up against the Moscow cold, speaking out for democracy via social media brings to mind the wave of political protests that have defined 2011 -- from the Arab uprisings in the Middle East, to the Occupy movement in developed economies, and now in Russia. And it raises the question of just how vital a role the Internet and social media played in making possible this year's protests, including the ones that toppled entrenched dictatorships in Arab countries.
Could the historic turmoil of 2011 have happened without the Internet?