Facebook framed: Portraying the role of social media in activism

The study explores how Facebook was framed during the "tent protest" - the largest social protest in Israel's history. Findings from of a content analysis of the local Israeli press indicate that Facebook was framed mainly as a political instrument assisting the protest, especially in the stages of recruitment, organization and dissemination of information to protesters. Alongside such positive framing, also evident, albeit less frequently, was negative framing that portrayed Facebook activities as incompatible with genuine political action, and portrayed the "Facebook generation" as lazy and spoiled.