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