Digital Activism

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Recommended: The role of social media for social movement

Brandon Ge
Professor Johnson
Writ150 (9:30 Tues-Thurs)
2 December 2015
The Digital Spread of Social Activism With the rise of the digital age, the developing online world radiates with opportunities to interact with communities across the globe. Although traditional social activists disagree, contemporary activists see potential in this window to ignite greater social change. Taking advantage of the popularity of social networking and the mechanisms provided, digital activists begin by spreading awareness of social issues through these established channels. On an unprecedented scale, digital activists can effectively unit the dispersed communities and organize them into supporting movements to pressure for social change. Simultaneously, reaching …show more content…

Before becoming an activist, a person must be educated about or at least aware that a social issue exists and that change must ensue. Digital activism dramatically expedites this process by utilizing the ubiquity of the online world. According to Internet World Stats, over three billion people actively use the Internet; Facebook alone generates nearly one billion daily active users, highlight the prominence of social networks (Internet World Stats). Over half of the world’s population is digitally linked, presenting the perfect environment for digital activism to thrive with room to further grow. Much of social networking’s popularity attributes to the attractive functions provided that facilitate communication between online users. Taking advantage of these mechanisms, such as Facebook’s life and share features, activist organizations effortlessly launch campaigns and allow users to spread awareness. By, as journalist Nathan Porter for The Washington times describes, “employing every tool in the digital toolbox,” digital activism reaches a greater number of communities (Porter). On social networks, news tends spread faster through chain reactions as users will naturally spread information along their personal channels, starting the cycle anew. While some people underestimate the value of social networks and these tools, digital activists recognize and are quick to harness the online population to power social change. Through the online world, digital activism not only develops a larger base of supporters, but also maintains connections with these

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