Frequent Internet and phone outages have become a trademark of uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa, with foreign reporters either assaulted on the job or kept out altogether.
However, the more vehemently regimes attempt to silence news of spreading protests and their response to them, the louder the commotion on social media channels grows.
This is particularly true in Libya and Iran, where press bans have left the BBC, CNN and even Al Jazeera reliant on sporadic phone calls with protesters on the ground - when there is a connection.
In Libya's case, an unprecedented torrent of tweets - at a rate of thousands per minute - were rushing in under the hastag #Libya as unrest flared and spread to the capital today.
The #Libya tweets included descriptions of beatings, of police opening fire and killing protesters, and even of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi fleeing the country
(Please note: SBS cannot vouch for the accuracy or content of the following tweets and videos)
" I Just got a call THEY ARE Killing everyone in Tripoli if you know anyone on the East side, Tripoli needs your help its a massacre!!" tweeted @djmeddi.
Tens of thousands of others said nothing but #Libya, many undoubtedly in a show of support, and some perhaps merely seeking to gain followers.
Iranian protesters hide identities
In Iran's case, many were deeply fearful of revealing their identities, locations or any other detail that may lead pro-government forces to them.
"Almost complete #media blackout in #Iran. #Journalists & their #cameras absent. People forced 2 protest & report all at once," tweeted @ShirinSadeghi.
One anonymous source told SBS by email that riot police were filming people's faces in order to recognise them later.
They were also throwing paintballs at protesters' homes with plans to attack them afterwards, the source alleged, adding that Basij (pro-regime religious police) were hiding in ambulances and ordering them to take the injured to prison rather than hospital.
This video posted on YouTube - though impossible to verify - apparently shows Basij police chasing protesters through the streets of Shiraz on February 20.
While on this one, chants of 'Mubarak, Ben Ali, now it's time for Seyed Ali!' shouted in Farsi are audible.
These videos and allegations are reminiscent of reports that emerged during protests after Iran's June 2009 election, which were ultimately shown to have originated from just six internet service providers within Iran.
At the time, Al Jazeera's Riyadh Minty noted that President Ahmadinejad's supporters were not heard in the social media commotion because they are predominantly from rural areas and lack literacy skills and Internet access.
That does not mean they are in the minority, cautioned Minty.
Imbalance in access to technology, and the largely unverifiable nature of social media reports are two excellent reasons many journalists remain cautious of Twitter and YouTube during breaking news events.
However, they undeniably provide a window - albeit foggy and distorted - onto events and sentiments in countries that are difficult to access via traditional journalistic methods.
The social media window into the wave of revolt sweeping the Middle East and North Africa has drawn an immense flock of international spectactors.
They have been glued to this view for nigh on a month now, as they offer support to those on the other side - whether they know of it or not.
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