social media activism
DESCRIPTION
Social Media Activism (SMA) is the use of web-based platforms, applications and technologies to bring about political or social change and has the power to disseminate information rapidly and globally. It has played a central role in recent worldwide movements for change. We discuss current trends and limitations, the main players and their changing market share, and innovations in the on-line activism arena. Traditional players like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube are now being challenged by new tools and activist specific spaces. Security concerns have led to the creation of tools such as Pidder, Crabgrass and OTR. SMA is not always a force for good. Users must be responsible, evaluate the veracity of information and understand the potential to propagate crime. Ultimately, SMA can only be a part of the movement for change - it still needs brave people on the streets to challenge the status quo.TRANSCRIPT
Social Media Activism
Team Name:Anthony DevineElaine DenehanJohn Donohoe Maud O’ConnorStephanie Terry
IntroductionSocial Media defined as websites and applications that enable users to create/ share content and network
The main organisations in this place include
• Blogger (1999) • Facebook (2003)
• youtube (1999) • Twitter (1999)
Social media activists use these tools to disseminate information and rally support quicker or under the radar of
mainstream media.
Definition • Social Media
– “Is a term used to describe a variety of web-based platforms, applications and technologies that enable people to socially interact with one another online” webopedia
• Activism– “the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to
bring about political or social change” Oxford Dictionary
• Social Media Activism– The use of web-based platforms, application and
technologies to bring about political or social change.“You are what you share.”
― Charles Leadbeater, We Think: The Power Of Mass Creativity
Timeline
www.idfive.com
A brief history of social media organisations and technology
Instances of revolution
1999 World Trade Organisation Protest in Seattle Mobile phones
2006 California Immigration Protests Text messaging
2010 Arab Spring Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and blogs
2011 Tottenham Riots Blackberry messengers, twitter
“The internet is the Che Guevara of the 21st Century and hierarchies are being levelled”
-Alec Ross (Hilary Clinton’s Sr. Advisor) 2011
Social Media Activism
Cause for Change
People
Technology
“Social media sparks a revelation that we, the people, have a voice, and through the democratization of content and ideas we can once again unite around common passions, inspire movements, and ignite
change.” ― Brian Solis
Recent Global HotspotsTunisia
Ukraine
Syria
Mexico
USA
India
Thailand
PhilippinesUK
Social Media Activism
Cause for Change
People
Technology
• Facebook forms groups, covert and overt - in order to establish those strong but flexible connections.
• Twitter is used for real-time organisation and news dissemination, bypassing the cumbersome 'newsgathering' operations of the mainstream media.
• Youtube and Twitter-linked photographic sites - Yfrog, Flickr, and Twitpic- are used to provide instant evidence of the claims being made.
*http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jan/03/how-the-revolution-went-viral
Technology - Sharing information
CrowdVoice• Newsfeeds• Focus on events• Variety of opinion
Sukey• Mobile App• To organise protests• Real-time information
Movements.org• Blogs• Case Studies• Directory of tools
Technology – Securing InformationPidder
• Encrypts information• Security settings• Protects IP address
Off-The-Record• Encrypts IM conversations• Authentication• Deniability
Crabgrass• Free Secure Software• Wiki’s• Protest events
Competitive Landscape
Collaboration and Community
Issues• Authenticity– Reputation of media sources
• Slacktivism– Does this make a difference?
• Organised Crime Mobs– London riots 2011
IssuesAuthenticity
• Who has produced the information?• How recent is the information?• How accurate is the information?• What is the purpose of the information?
Slacktivism
• What is the goal of the action required?• Is there any value to this action?
Crime
• Organised looting and riots• Do you know what cause you are fighting for?• Disinformation
Summary
“We must understand that in this age of persuasion,
social media is one of the tools available to social
activists. But when social media is effectively employed
in campaigns, it remains the activists, revolutionaries
and dissidents who deserve the credit for challenging
the status quo – and not social media itself.” -Mark Kerstenhttp://justiceinconflict.org/2012/06/02/has-social-media-reinvented-social-activism-a-debate/