New media is undoubtedly one of the most powerful tools for political change. The importance of an accessible public sphere in which to freely discuss, debate and act on pressing social and political issues was evidenced during the Arab Spring in the Middle East last year, as well as the student protests in Quebec more recently, with more and more causes getting involved every day.

With this notion in mind, South African-based Prezence Digital Production decided to go back in time and apply every social media tool available to the life of Nelson Mandela. Their unique and innovative video, complete with tweets, status updates, Instagram photos and Foursquare check-ins, intelligently fuses bite-sized information and inspirational quotes with online profiles of Mandela's friends and relatives, as well as political figures and media outlets.

The video aims to address the question, "Would our nation's father, Nelson Mandela have spent 27 years in prison if he had access to the same technology, social media platforms, instant sharing apps and global monitoring tools as we do today?" This approach has been applied before to such classic tales as the Christmas story and the Exodus from Egypt, but never before has it had the same political implications.

In four minutes, we're taken through Mandela's timeline including personal, professional, legal and humanitarian pursuits. The answer to the film' central question? Each viewer will be the judge, but a different level of support and public expression would surely have changed his trajectory in one way or another.

This timeline is not the first digital archive for Mandela. Earlier this year, the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory stored the South African leader's life, personal memories and commitment to social justice in an online multimedia archive for an interactive experience that preserves and promotes his story and culture.

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  • Nelson Mandela

    Former South African President Nelson Mandela, center, with his wife Graça Machel, left, as he celebrates his birthday with family in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday Wednesday.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Former South African President Nelson Mandela as he celebrates his birthday with family in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday Wednesday. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Former South African President Nelson Mandela as he celebrates his birthday in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday Wednesday.(AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Former South African President Nelson Mandela, center, with his wife Graça Machel, left, as he celebrates his birthday with family in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday Wednesday. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • South African schoolchildren hold signs

    South African schoolchildren hold signs as they prepare to sing happy birthday to former South African President Nelson Mandela, on his 94th birthday, at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto, on July 18, 2012. The nation's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special birthday song, ringing with the line: 'We love you father'. For the fourth year, at the request of his charitable foundation, July 18 is observed as Mandela Day, recognised by the United Nations as a global call to volunteer for good causes for 67 minutes -- representing each year of Mandela's life in active politics. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (Photo credit should read STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Miss South Africa 2011 Melinda Bam poses

    Miss South Africa 2011 Melinda Bam poses with schoolchildren preparing to sing happy birthday to former South African President Nelson Mandela, on his 94th birthday, at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto, on July 18, 2012. The nation's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special birthday song, ringing with the line: 'We love you father'. For the fourth year, at the request of his charitable foundation, July 18 is observed as Mandela Day, recognised by the United Nations as a global call to volunteer for good causes for 67 minutes -- representing each year of Mandela's life in active politics. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (Photo credit should read STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • South African schoolchildren sing happy

    South African schoolchildren sing happy birthday to former South African President Nelson Mandela as he turned 94 on July 18, 2012, at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto. The nation's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special birthday song, ringing with the line: 'We love you father'. For the fourth year, at the request of his charitable foundation, July 18 is observed as Mandela Day, recognised by the United Nations as a global call to volunteer for good causes for 67 minutes -- representing each year of Mandela's life in active politics. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (Photo credit should read STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • South African schoolchildren sing happy

    South African schoolchildren sing happy birthday to former South African President Nelson Mandela as he turned 94 on July 18, 2012, at Batsogile Primary School in Soweto. The nation's 12 million schoolchildren began their day with a special birthday song, ringing with the line: 'We love you father'. For the fourth year, at the request of his charitable foundation, July 18 is observed as Mandela Day, recognised by the United Nations as a global call to volunteer for good causes for 67 minutes -- representing each year of Mandela's life in active politics. AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN (Photo credit should read STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP/GettyImages)

  • Nelson Mandela

    A woman carrying oranges on her head walks to a party in honor of former South African President Nelson Mandela during celebrations for Mandela's birthday in Mvezo, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    A traditional performer shouts out during celebrations for former South African President, Nelson Mandela's birthday in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday Wednesday. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Children from a school where former South African President Nelson Mandela went as a child sing as they celebrate his birth day in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Members from the South African correctional service repair a wall at a school where former South African President Nelson Mandela went as a child as they celebrate his birthday in Qunu, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    A man seen on horse back, as former South African President Nelson Mandela celebrates his birthday in Mvezo, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Mandla Mandela, right, the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela claps hands with children and other adults during celebrations for Mandela's birthday in Mvezo, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday Wednesday. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Children stand inline as Mandla Mandela, unseen, the grandson of former South African President Nelson Mandela hands out books to them during celebrations for Mandela's birthday in Mvezo, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Children sing in celebration of former South African President Nelson Mandela's birthday in Mvezo, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

  • Nelson Mandela

    Children put on clothes that were given to them during celebration for former South African President Nelson Mandela's birthday in Mvezo, South Africa, Wednesday, July 18, 2012. Across the country, and even abroad, people are doing good deeds to honor the country's most famous statesman on his 94th birthday today. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

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