When Digital Media mobilise Grassroots
- A Study of Young People’s Use and Meaning of Digital Media in
Mobilisation after the Clearing of “Ungdomshuset” in Copenhagen
Christie Stauning Andersen, postgraduate student in IT
Lotte Lund Larsen, MSc in IT
Internet Research 9.0: Rethinking Community, Rethinking Place 16th October 2008

Agenda
1 Introduction
2 Analytical Results
3 Is Smart Mobs the Right Notion?

Problem Statement
How were digital media used in the
mobilisation of youth house activist
and what significance did it have?
In that sense is there a new culture
of mobilisation emerging?

Method
Ethnographic study
1st Frebruary - 15th April 2008

Collected data
3 websites
2 social networksites
1 Gmail account
113 chain text messages
5 observations
2 group interviews

Theory
Social Movement
Network Society
Howard Rheingold: Smart Mobs

Six Types of
Chain Text Messages

1 The Urgent Type
\"Trouble in the centre of
Christiania - the police have
shot a puppy and threatened
people with guns. come and
give your support! forward
this quickly\"
Chain text message, 2nd April 2008

1 The Urgent Type
\"Like this urgent message as
in, if you don't come now, it
might be over in an hour, so
this is also relevant to you\"
Girl 18 years old

2 The Informative Type
\"THEY BROKE OUR HEART – NOT OUR
SPIRIT! Big popular demo on the 1-year
anniversary for the clearing of jagtvej 69.
1st March at 12 from Nørrebro
sportscentre to Christiania to City Hall
ASSquare where there'll be music,
performance and street cake. Bring
everyone and their grandparents along!
The fight goes on! Forwd.\"
Chain text message, 29th February 2008

3 News
\"New Youth House on
Dortheavej! Read
politiken.dk B-)\"
Chain text message, 14th March 2008

4 The Affirmative Type
\"Well it's also sometimes (…) then
there are like some people who send
stuff like that around, which doesn't
really contain anything, which is just
like pat yourself on the back we're
really cool or...\"
Girl 17 years old

5 The Regulative Type
“Dont start riots tonight! We are a
movement who sometimes use
militant stradegy! Not a hooligan
group! The political proces is still on!
We will fight another day! Dont do
something stupid, just for one night of
riots and fun! Be smart! Take care.
Spread the word”
Chain text message, 1st March 2008

6 The Festive Type
\"Come! - Friday Bar this Friday April
4th in Bumzen. Nulle &
Verdensorkestret are playing that
funky music at 19.30 and Mekanisk
will take care of the bar, tall tales, and
wicked style.... It'll be a party!!\"
Chain text message, 30th March 2008

Waves of Chain Text Messages

Many Processes of
Mobilisation and Demobilisation
at the Same Time

That Is all Smart Mobs
- But How?

A Huge and Intelligent
Potential of Diffusion

Mobile Phone Subscriptions

“(…) then I know this and that person
in that network and for example know
that this person always forwards to
such and such a large network I know,
right? Then maybe instead of sending
it to everyone I know, I'll send it to
three different people who I know all
have their networks.”
Girl 17 years old

“(…) at the same time I also
know someone, where I know
that they know, that I know
when they get the chain
message about something (…)”
Girl 17 years old

Coordination not Planning

Smart Mobs Is Inadequate

Emergent Culture
of Mobilisation

More information
Slideshow: slideshare.com/lolula
Our blog: mobilspeciale.dk
Contact: mail@mobilspeciale.dk