facebookfacebookCreative Organizing for Social ChangeCreative Organizing for Social Change

Johannes N. SmitHC_242_701_0880,

Acting Up for Social Change (H-1-I) Prof. T. Tresser

DePaul University

Social Media & ActivismSocial Media & ActivismActivism before the WebSocial Media: •Press, Radio, TV.•Physical Gatherings.•Word of Mouth.•Artistic Expression.

Audience: Limited to broadcast capacity.

Social Media & ActivismSocial Media & ActivismEnter Web & Social NetworksWeb Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace etc.

Audience: Computer+ Internet Connection = Hundreds of Millions

Social Media & ActivismSocial Media & ActivismEnter Mobile ConnectivityWeb Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.

Audience: Computers+ Mobile Devices+ Internet Connection = Hundreds of Millions

Empower the PeopleEmpower the PeoplePhasing Out•Local Anti-Gathering law enforcement.•Censure of expression & media.•Fear of retribution.•Small potential

amount ofMembers.

•Local reach.

Empower the PeopleEmpower the PeoplePhasing In•Neutral online gathering grounds.•Freedom of Expression.•Anonymity.•Vast potential amount of members.•National/International reach.

Empower the PeopleEmpower the PeopleModern Social MediaNormal people can:•Reach out internationally•Meet•Coordinate•Collaborate•Voice opinions•Protest en masse•Act up to bring social change.

StatisticsStatistics• 1 - 800 million members in 6 years.• 350 million users access via mobile devices.

(facebook statistics)

StatisticsStatistics• 250 million photos

uploaded per day.• Facebook

applications installed, 20 million times per month.

(facebook statistics)

How it WorksHow it Works1. Register as a New User2 Account types:•Personal•Business

Facebook accounts forNon-Profit Organizations

Promotional ToolsPromotional Tools• Page Creation

• Ads

• Applications

• Places

• Events

• Groups

• Social Plugins

Facebook AdvantagesFacebook Advantages• Reach & Popularity

• Free Creative Platform

• Common Interests

• Anonymity

• Neutral Gathering Ground

• Overcoming Geographic limitations

• Socially Beneficial Societies

• Mobile Device Friendly

DisadvantageDisadvantagess

• Constant Change• Facebook Controls Access• Business can’t contact

individuals• No fan contact information• Identity Forging• Inaccurate information feeds• Hate-communication• Security & Virus Threats• Hacking & Information theft• Identity Theft• Spam & Privacy

Pros vs ConsPros vs Cons• Advantages outweighs

disadvantages• Success stories include 2008

Presidential campaign, measuring Obama’s popularity vs McCain’s.

• White House decision to use social networks in connecting to the people.

• Constant increase of membership

• The power of the medium has proven itself.

Reference•Facebook. (2011). Activism. Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Activism/108190249208655

•Facebook. (2011). Statistics. Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?statistics

•Facebook. (2011). Non-Profits on Facebook. Retrieved from: http://www.facebook.com/nonprofits

•Kingston, C. (2011). Understanding Facebook Accounts. Social Media Workshop. Retrieved from: http://socialmediadiyworkshop.com/2010/03/understanding-facebook-accounts/

•Kingston, C. (2011). Facebook as a Social Media Hub. Social Media Workshop. Retrieved from: http://socialmediadiyworkshop.com/2010/01/facebook-as-a-social-media-hub/