Changing the world one click at a time

I am a modern day warrior using my mouse to fight the injustices of this world.  No need to laugh, I am sure you have done the same!  Ever signed an online petition to save the rhinos, the rainforests, the right for all females to an education or just liked Greenpeace's facebook page?  Welcome to the age of digital activism.

Digital activism occurs when activists use technology to achieve social and political change.  Joyce (2012) states that activists are overly optimistic in thinking that liking a facebook page or tweeting about an event will change the status quo.   However she acknowledges that all big events start off small and that these actions can be the start of revolutions. 

The life changing effects of one such starting point is clearly illustrated in the Egyptian Revolution as discussed by Professor Rasha Abdulla:

Saleh (2012) points out that the Egyptian government had sole control over media, before social media and the internet.  Digital activists began to showcase violations of human rights by gathering evidence of incidents of torture and posting it online.   Saleh (2012) further emphasizes that it was facebook that lifted this campaign to new heights.  It enabled activists to reach non-political Egyptians.  Thanks to social media Tunisia's Ben Ali and Egypt's Mubarak were defeated.  However one should be careful not to oversimplify complex issues.  Although social media played an integral part in the revolution and the removal of the leaders, this removal does not necessarily result in a change of the political structures.

In an interview with Walker (2003), Rheingold mentions other examples where digital activism had a big impact, namely:

•    Mobile communications helping to sway elections in South Korea, Kenya and the U.S.

•    Peaceful demonstrations that ended the reign of President Joseph Estrada in the Phillipines

•    The Miss World riots in Nigeria.

These campaigns worked because of text messages being forwarded resulting in communication amongst a very large network very quickly.

The overall feeling about the future of digital activism is positive.  Don Tapscott (2010) feels that this new communication medium creates an opportunity for us to reinvent the world.  It holds the promise that we can tackle problems in ways we have not thought possible.  Followers of this optimistic approach believe that digital activism will change existing political hierarchies and empower citizens.

There are of course people who are pessimistic about this, who feel that these kinds of activities promote chaos.  Some people view this as neither positive nor negative as they believe little will change.  However you feel about it, I do believe it is here to stay because it is a fast, free way to get a vast number of people involved in the conversation.

References

Joyce, M 2010, Digital activism decoded:  the new mechanics of change, n.p : International debate education assiociation, eBook collection, EBSCOhost, viewed 3 December 2012

 

Saleh, N 2012, Egypts's digital activism and the dictator's dilemma: an evaluation, Telecommunications Policay, vol 36 (6) pp 476 – 483 (Peer reviewed journal), viewed 3 December 2012

Tapscott, D 2010, Social media: online activism, 21 January, online video, viewed 3 December 2012, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AN-kIJI_5wg>

 Walker, J 2003, 'Is that a computer in your pants?', Reason, 34, 11, p.36, MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 3 December 2012

Hear me twitter

I have been reading countless tweets, trying to figure out why people are so hooked on this form of social media? I think I will be the last person joining this party. However I have been brought up with the saying “If you can't say anything good, then don't say anything at all”. Seeing that these blogs are part of my assignment, I am betting that this attitude will backfire. So let me share what I discovered about Twitter ...

The mind boggles at the ingenious (and sometimes ridiculous) ways this medium is being used. @yourinamerica is a popular account (8000 followers in 60 tweets over 3 days) according to Chris Taylor (2012). I bet you are wondering what insightful tweets this individual is sharing with the world? This account is hell bound on correcting the grammar of twitter users by naming and shaming them. Can I hear the collective cheer of educational institutes across the world?

Floatingsheep (2012) utilizes Twitter in an interesting way through geocoded tweets to map out information like America's favourite Thanksgiving meal or where the greatest number of racist tweets are generated from.

                                                  (image courtesy of floatingsheep.org)

It is not all fun and games on Twitter though. The FBI is using twitter to combat crime, in particular to track stock fraud. News about the Gaza ceasefire agreement featured prominently on BBC reporter Jon Donnison's twitter account.  His tweets not only updates us on the big events, but also enlightens about the differences between Israelis and Palestinians as he experiences it. Cross (2011 ) reminds us that when national disasters strike or dictators try to suppress citizens, Twitter is the media of choice to communicate and educate the world.

Because Twitter is an uncensored way of communicating, things can get out of control. This was the case when an online argument between Chris Brown and Jenny Johnson got out of hand, resulting in Brown deleting his account and Johnson having to deal with numerous death threads from fellow tweeters.  It seems that we are more capable of expressing negative emotions via social media, while being less capable of solving relationship issues.

Howard Rheingold is an academic who has mulled over the impact of social media and in particular the role played by the virtual community. It is thus no wonder that in my desperation I turned to him for insight and boy did I get it! In his article Twitter Literacy (I refuse to make up a Twittery name for it)(2012) he nails it by stating that the difference between seeing Twitter as a waste of space and great communication tool is knowing how to use it. You must know who to follow and how to keep the people following you interested.

I am amazed at the positive features he manages to point out. It is all about variety, immediacy and connecting with people who can enhance you in some way. In hindsight I have discovered a few truths about myself while attempting to learn about Twitter. I am not as tolerant as I thought myself to be. Even a mere 140 characters can irritate me if I deem it to be non-sense. I am spoiled for choice and expect instant gratification. Rheingold mentions that Twitter is not a place where you can drop by once a week, you need to spend time on it to really get the feel and appreciate it.

 

While I am still not convinced about getting a Twitter account, this research into social media leaves me pondering. Why do we have such an overwhelming need to be heard?

REFERENCES 

Cross, M 2011, Bloggerati, Twitterati, Praeger, viewed 3 December 2012, EBL

Goldstein, M & Ablan, J 2012, 'FBI uses Twitter, social media to look for securities fraud', Reuters, 26 November, viewed 3 December 2012 <http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/26/net-us-investment-summit-fbi-idUSBRE8AP0EX20121126>

Luippold, R 2012, 'Chris Brown's vulgar twitter attack on Jenny Johnson, Comedy writer', Huffington Post, 25 November, viewed 3 December 2012 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/25/chris-browns-vulgar-twitter-attack-on-jenny-johnson-comedy-writer_n_2188841.html>

Rheingold, H 2012, 'Twitter Literacy (I refuse to make up a Twittery name for it',  SFGate, 6 December, viewed 7 December 2012 <http://blog.sfgate.com/rheingold/2009/05/11/twitter-literacy-i-refuse-to-make-up-a-twittery-name-for-it/>

Taylor, C 2012, 'You're in America! Twitter account corrects dumb grammar', Mashable, 27 November, viewed 3 December 2012 <http://mashable.com/2012/11/26/your-in-america-twitter/> 

Zook, M 2012, 'Mapping racist tweets in response to President O'bama's re-election', Floatingsheep, 8 November, viewd 3 December 2012 <http://www.floatingsheep.org/2012/11/mapping-racist-tweets-in-response-to.html>

So call me ... Maybe?

Some women swear they NEVER leave the house without make-up.  Me?  I belong to a different breed … I cannot imagine leaving without my mobile!

Armed with this little device I feel ready for any challenge my day can throw at me. My command centre consists of a phone to reach friends and family, texting for the kids, a camera to capture those priceless moments, a calendar to keep track of appointments, the ability to surf the net and should there be a spare moment I have my favourite music and a game of mah-jong to entertain me.  It even reflects a bit of my personality through a personalised ringtone and cover.

Is there anything this modern miracle can't do?  As a matter of fact this little device is missing a crucial application resulting in us losing our sanity!  Mobile devices are increasingly changing our behaviour.  It starts during the teenage years with Australian science (2011) reporting that the quality of sleep of almost half of 16 year olds may be affected by texting.  Mobile devices allow us to be switched on 24/7.  We can go to work and stay in touch … by default the opposite is also true.  The boundaries between work and home are so blurred that they are almost non-existing. 

Work from home pioneers like JC Gluesing (2009) points out that flexibility is crucial to thrive in this new environment.  She isn't only referring to be being flexible with your time, but also with your identity.  We are used to leaving our “work personality” behind, but with technology finding us even after hours, we have to learn new skills allowing us to switch back into work mode instantly.

Even when physically in the company of other people, we find ourselves checking email or taking phone calls.  Not only are mobile devices robbing us of quality time spent with other people, but they are also eroding our self-confidence and reliance.  Have you ever felt a little pang of anxiety when you realise there is no coverage?

Sherry Turkle (2012) warns that our fascination with technology is changing who we are.  We are starting to avoid face to face conversations as we classify them as messy; there is no delete function.  Humans are exhibiting an ever increasing need to be in control, while at the same time developing a fear of being alone.  We are no longer cherishing alone time to figure out who we are, how we feel or how to relate.  Where in the past man's identity was summed up in the wise words from French philosopher, Rene Descartes as I think, therefore I am, Turkle (2012) now sums it up as I share, therefore I am. 

As with all things in life, the answer lies in balance.  Technology is evolving rapidly, we need to allow ourselves the luxury of slowing down to think about where we are heading.  You have to figure out what works for you.  Personally I am easily overwhelmed by intense communication.  My solution is to put up boundaries.....I do not give out my mobile number easily and I do not feel obligated to respond to calls or texts from unknown numbers.  I am striving to make technology work for me, for it to complement my lifestyle rather than becoming my life.  How do you cope?

Australian Science 2011, The influence of mobile phones on teenagers, November 15, viewed 26 November 2012, <http://www.australianscience.com.au/technology/the-influence-of-mobile-phones-on-teenagers/>

Gluesing, JS 2009, ‘Identity in a virtual world:  The coevolution of technology, work and lifecycle’, in Mobile work, Mobile lives, Wiley-Blackwell, pp. 70 – 102

Turkle, S 2102, Connected, but alone?, February, online video, viewed 26 November 2012, < http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html>

Good to meet you

Welcome to my blog where the aim is to reflect on the impact of social media on our lives. I look forward to sharing my own thoughts and ideas, as well as discovering yours. Let the journey begin....