Activism and protest
Using digital tools (internet, mobile phones, social media, etc.) to bring about social or political change is referred to as "digital activism"（ Ozkula，2021）. Since 2004, the introduction and rapid growth of social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter have promoted digital activism because entire campaigns can be run online (sometimes with little to no offline component) and still have a broad reach (Rees, 2013).
Civic culture is defined as "those aspects of the socio-cultural world which serve as preconditions for a person's participation in public life and politics" (Dahlgren 2009, p. 104). Civic engagement is facilitated, prepared, and defined by the media, but it is equally driven by external and internal factors, inspiring and driving civic agency.
As a result, online activism has often been described as either 'clicktivism' or, worse, "slacktivism," perceived as superficial or lazy. "Clicktivism" means using social media and other online methods to promote a particular cause by simply clicking on a button to endorse or sign a petition（Cabrera et al.，2017）. Slacktivism is a term used to describe a form of trivial activism, usually by posting links, comments, and photos on social media to support a cause, but without taking any further action（Cabrera et al.，2017）.
Digital radicalism is democratising radicalism. Previously, it was expensive to spread the message, so only relatively large organisations could afford to run large campaigns and mobilise many people. Now social media has made this much more accessible.
The emergence of online radicalism demonstrates the transformative effects of the internet on society (Holiday, 2020). Some viral campaigns can attest that social media campaigns have become a successful means of raising funds. As an example, there is the Ice Bucket Challenge, which has created a wave of social media enthusiasm.
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| image resource： https://images.app.goo.gl/Nc8PUNVgca2MWuXd7 |
It has been documented that thousands of people have recorded themselves drowning in ice during the Ice Bucket Challenge. Over $115 million was raised for the ALS Association thanks to this viral campaign to raise awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) (Bagri, 2016).
video:
Bill Gates' Ice Bucket Challenge
https://youtu.be/XS6ysDFTbLU
Disadvantages of activism
Furthermore, social media activism can have drawbacks, such as a lack of privacy, disseminating untrustworthy information, and the risk of being branded.
While it is an excellent tool for gathering responses and action from many people worldwide, social media also poses some privacy risks.
These social media platforms permit users to transfer some of their rights to their content to these networks, and they may lose control of their data. Unfortunately, many users are unaware of why their data will be used (Earl, 2022).
Reference list
Bagri, N., 2016. There’s a new outlet for your social activism, ice bucket not required. Quartz. Accessed 14 April 2022 https://qz.com/807880/theres-a-new-outlet-for-your-social-activism-ice-bucket-not-required/.
Gates, B., 2022. Bill Gates ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. [online] Youtu.be. Available at: <https://youtu.be/XS6ysDFTbLU> [Accessed 18 April 2022].
Cabrera, NL, Matias, CE & Montoya, R 2017, 'Activism or slacktivism? the potential and pitfalls of social media in contemporary student activism.', Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 400-415. https://doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000061
Dahlgren, P 2009, Media and Political Engagement: Citizens, communications and democracy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
Earl J, Maher TV, Pan J. 2022，The digital repression of social movements, protest, and activism: A synthetic review. Sci Adv. 2022 Mar 11;8(10):eabl8198. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abl8198.
Holiday, R., 2020. 28 Decisive Pros & Cons Of Online Activism. [online] Environmental-conscience.com. Accessed 14 April 2022 https://environmental-conscience.com/online-activism-pros-cons/
Ozkula, S. M. 2021 “What is digital activism anyway? Social constructions of the ‘digital’ in contemporary activism”, Journal of Digital Social Research, 3(3), pp. 60-84. doi: 10.33621/jdsr.v3i3.44.
Rees, A., 2013. Digital and Online Activism. [online] Digital for Good | RESET.ORG. Accessed 14 April 2022 https://en.reset.org/digital-and-online-activism/
Hi Belle,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. The information regarding “Slactivism” and “Clicktivism” was really interesting, yet is it really doing nothing if someone posts links, comments, and adds photos on social media to support a cause? Are they not making their friends and followers aware of the issue, therefore engaging in subactivism which is vitally important in spreading the word? Just a thought :)
Kellie
Belle, I particularly enjoyed your in-depth coverage of digital radicalism particularly regarding the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Thinking of this from another point of view, when you quote how digital radicalism "demonstrates the transformative effects of the internet on society" and how it has "created a wave of social media enthusiasm". Do you believe this challenge was another form of performative activism? As with such performative trends, they tend to fade out and that's when another enters and captures the world's attention - as I personally haven't seen anything regarding ALS Ice Bucket Challenges in recent times. Just some food for thought!
ReplyDeleteHi Belle, Your post is engaging and comprehensive with well referenced information. Your explanation of the drawbacks of social media activism were very interesting. Monique
ReplyDeleteAnother great piece! I particularly enjoyed reading the radicalism section- I remember the social pressure and effect the ice bucket challenge had and it was phenomenal. Thank you for outlining the academic side to this :)
ReplyDelete-Zehra
Hi Belle, I really enjoyed reading your blog post. I like how you incorporated the Ice bucket challenge example as a way to show that social media campaigns can be so positive and effective in raising funds.
ReplyDeleteUnrelated to the topic, but I LOVE the design of this post! You've really took priority in ensuring a great reader mentality with a very well thought out design to make the post a bit different from the standard text dump.
ReplyDeleteI remember the social pressure and effect the ice bucket challenge had, and I may have participated in it myself! Would love to see your video one day ;)
Hi Belle, thanks for your blog. Really enjoyed reading the advantages to radicalism. Not something I've thought about in depth beforehand. Great work!
ReplyDelete