For better or worse, the notoriety of the internet stepped up a notch last year. Civil unrest was a common theme in the news - not just here in the UK, but throughout the world - the US had the Occupy movements, we had 'the riots' and of course, Arabic countries had the Arab Spring. The resounding driving force behind these events? Social networking.
David Willetts has an opinion on what the idea of the university is, but when he agreed to come and share this view at Cambridge University, he was denied the chance to speak. Within seconds of stepping up to the podium, Willetts was met with an angry mass counter-speech from Cambridge Defend Education.
First and foremost in my argument is the simple, and accurate, assertion that the Tories are in fact hopeful that the unions will walk out and stage numerous protests over the coming months. These pension reforms have provided Cameron with a window of opportunity to finally finish what Margaret Thatcher started during her reign as Conservative leader.
I find it really striking that the joint attempt by police and the Crown Prosecution Service to slap an Anti Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) on English Defence League leader Stephen Lennon, which would effectively have prevented him from protesting with the group he founded, seems not to have aroused the concerns of liberals and civil liberties campaigners. Even those usually quick to man the barricades when similar attacks on people's freedoms take place.