Online Social Justice Research Paper

Online Social Justice Research Paper
With the rise of the internet and social media, many aspects of American life have changed,
including how today's important issues are handled. A new form of activism has emerged: one
conducted, mystifyingly, mostly online, and known as social media activism, or online social justice.
However, as social media activism rises, so too do criticisms of the movement. While these
criticisms are valid and should be considered, social media is not often credited enough for its
ability to aid the forward progression of the country. Online social justice in the U.S. is an effective
form of social justice because it makes politics accessible to many people, lends voices and visibility
to marginalized groups, and often translates into "on–the–ground" offline ... Show more content on
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612). Social media encourages people to express themselves politically by providing them with a
convenient platform, and this in turn leads them to participate politically (Gil de Zúñiga et al. 615).
On the negative side, some believe that the low commitment to engage with issues online leads
many to neglect to learn more about the causes or participate in any meaningful way. This kind of
unengaged activism is known as "slacktivism" (LaRiviere et al. 12). While it is true that it is
impossible to guarantee online participation, the simple act of consuming news on social media and
expressing political opinions online with friends can lead to political participation offline (Gil de
Zúñiga et al.
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Case Study: Cyber-Terrorism
Case study: Anonymous While the motivation of terrorist acts remains the same, the rapid evolution
of technique has provided to those that use terror as a method to attain their goals, new weapons
with a potential that is not fully quantified. The database, the measures of protection and security,
the equipment meant to reassure our safety are exposed to those new types of weapons, the
traditional methods of fight becoming impractical. The cyber–crimes are a supplement for cyber–
terrorism in what concerns the methods used although the motivations are different from each
person. Many of these attacks are made either to produce anarchy, for amusement, to reaffirm the
hacker?s position, or from a political motivation. When speaking of cyber–terrorism, the first thing
to take into consideration is the geographic component that vanish and there is a slight chance on the
terrestrial identification of the attacker due to the fact that internet offers us anonymity. Another
point to reflect is that ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By its actions, the group is in favor of a freer world, where ?governments oppressing their own
citizens and the Internet is kept free for anyone who wants to use? and intends to defend these
principles at any cost. Second, the relation between terrorism and media grew into a field more and
more researched due to the fact that the terrorist acts have gained rapid spread through TV and
internet, thus broadcasting their message to millions of people worldwide. The socio–political
objectives of those who are using strategies of violence are accomplished by exploitation of the
environment in a way that exposes the government as a miserable rival. In addition, it emphasizes
the social effect of terror and violence through several types of rendering or depending on the extent
of rendering, using

How Black Lives Matter Uses Social Media To Fight The Power
The emergence of the Internet in the 21st century has dramatically changed how we communicate. It
has opened a new avenue for facilitating human interaction. Information that would otherwise take
hours or even days to be made public, now take seconds with a click of a button. Is this good or
bad? What are the consequences of rapid–fire quick communication style that we have adopted? In
articles "How Black Lives Matter Uses Social Media to Fight The Power," and "The Attorney
Fighting Revenge Porn," authors Bijan Stephen and Margaret Talbot, discuss the pros and cons.
Stephen discusses new mass mobilization structures social media has provided for social activists,
while Talbot reflects on a new type of sexual harassment as a consequence of the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Like many victims, Connie chose not to pursue civil actions. In her case, it was a financial reason;
she simply did not have money for a settlement. Afraid that this incident might haunt her further, she
has moved out of the city, changed jobs, and erased her online presence. Connie's story illustrates
the damaging impact the internet has on
Paragraph 6: Law Enforcement's Involvement
The U.S. Government and the law enforcement have become involved due to the sensitive nature of
the issues presented in both stories. Both the government and the police are having to adapt to how
crime is changing in the presence of social media.
In "How Black Lives Matter Uses Social Media to Fight The Power," the ubiquity of smartphones
and easier access to have contributed to the success of investigations.
Stephens describes,"It (social media) helped pressure the federal government to investigate police
practices in Ferguson and Baltimore. It has successfully pushed Democratic presidential contenders
to come forward with policy proposals on the issues that specifically concern black people in
America. And an offshoot of the movement, a project called Campaign Zero that was organized in
part by Mckesson, has put forward a bunch of specific policy proposals to uproot police violence"
(Stephen 2015).
In "The Attorney Fighting Revenge Porn," Talbot describes,

16 Days Of Activism Essay
16 Days of Activism is a campaign that opposes violence suffered by women and children at the
hands of intimate partners, parents and others. Though not actively being involved between spouses
and families, the 16 Days of Activism campaign aim is to raise awareness of the impact violence and
abuse have on women and children, by helping bring the world together to fight for a common goal
with the intention to rid people of abuse permanently.
Women are not only supported by men though. Men are encouraged as well to take part in the
campaign to help eradicate violence in their communities by helping challenge offenders to change
their behaviour and informing survivors of services and organisations that could help rehabilitate
them in terms of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Some examples include The Domestic Violence Act of 1998 and The Children's Act of 2005.
The audience targeted in anyone of any age and race. All that's required for them to participate in the
campaign is to wear a white ribbon during the 16 day period to show commitment and support
against violence suffered by women and children. Considering the fact that 16 Days of Activism was
first officially started in 1991 and yet it is still represented worldwide, I believe the audience is
touched and inspired by the message it sends and therefore it is successful in raising awareness and
handing out necessary information –what it was designed for.
I do believe however, men with a religion or cultures allowing domestic abuse could feel that their
rights are violated by suffering from discrimination and stigma. Though I believe what they do is
wrong, there are still many other rights that complicate their situations as their behaviour is
supported by what they believe. Generally, these are the women and children who suffer the

George Orwell 1984 Protest Examples
Protesting used to be the most effective way to initiate change, it was able to give the powerless
power and the voiceless a voice. Protesting was the mechanism driving change throughout history
giving the oppressed people of the world a way to fight for change. Some famous examples of
protest would include The Boston Tea Party that helped spur a movement that would see the states
gain independence from England or the Women Suffrage movement that made a rallying called for
women's right to vote too loud in ignore. When more than two hundred thousand people descend on
Washington D.C. to help the passing of the Civil Rights Act it seemed like protesting was the most
effective way for change. In the renowned Letter from Birmingham Jail, Martin ... Show more
Eric Reid, a former teammate of Colin Kaepernick, explains the reasoning behind last year's anthem
protesting. He states that they kneeled rather than sitting during the anthem because kneeling is
spouse to be a respectful gesture like a flag flown at half mask to mark a tragedy. Anthem protesters
were protesting issues that plague the African American community like the systematic oppression
against people of color, police brutality, and the criminal justice system.(Reid) Many members of
the Black Lives Matter movement took to social media to give their support and defend Colin
Kaepernick for what he was standing up for. The people that took to social to join the movement
thought that they were going to be apart of the change, in reality, taking the protest social media did
not cause a change that Kaepernick was hoping for. This can still be seen today because there is still
oppression of people of color, which means that the people who took the protest to social media did
not cause any

Is Online Activism A Force For Social Change?
Activism using the Internet and other new media is increasingly having an impact in broadening the
scope of civic action in support of human rights in East Asia. Select one or two case studies of
activism in ONE East Asian country studied in this course. With regard to your chosen case studies,
how effective is online activism as a force for social change? How are government authorities
responding to the challenge of internet activism?
Richard Ge
Introduction
In Communist China, thought confining and regulation for access to banned book are existing. The
authoritarian government controls all the knowledge, spiritual and cultural disseminating channel,
for example, media, publishing, films, drama, etc. (Chen 2006 p.5)
Nonetheless, the popularization of the internet enables the Chinese to get in touch with the Western
values. Thus, activism for human rights has appeared online. This essay will argue how online
activism has influenced Chinese understandings of human rights; formed the attitude toward the
authoritarian regime; and shaped the Chinese society. Two cases are selected namely 1) Shanxi
black brick kiln slave scandal; 2) Lei Yang incident. At the same time, I will illustrate how the
authority response to the two incidents which are positive and negative respectively. The positive is
that the social welfare has been improved, while the negative is that the government tightened the
cyber control.
Campaign for civil society in Pre–internet era
Before the appearance

Pierre Bourdieu Culture
Pierre Bourdieu's Theory of Practice has had enormous influence on the "exploration of the role of
culture in the places of social inequity (Silva 142). Illustrations and artwork created by youth cac
containing creative expression capable of communicating social activism while simultaneously
inventive and imaginative, exhibiting aesthetic beauty and profound insight. Organized youth
programs such as Young Voices, Toronto Emerging ARTivist (TEA) and Success Power Opportunity
Teamwork (S.P.O.T) allow for the creation and public exhibit of such work serve more than artistic
outlet. These programs also afford youth opportunities of skill acquisition and building formative
relationships, combining mentorship and institutional agency.
Initially ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Seeking not to impose dominant morals and values, but rather "[A]s Bourdieu argues, 'divisions'
such as age, gender, and ethnicity do not necessarily cut across class divisions" (616) bur rather that
these elements act to further stratifying by creating class divisions separating "conditions of
existence and different dispositions and opportunities" (France and Threadgold 616). Recognizing
youth within specific areas may be at greater risk of social economic exclusion, the TPL though
S.P.O.T., Youth Hubs, and other youth programs are proactive in their attempt at targeting services
to those within identified geographic areas as has the TEA program. When organization such as
these actively engage youth within marginalized areas they minimize what Lupton and Kintrea refer
to as the collective socialization process of 'neighborhood effect theory' is minimized (669). In this
theory Lupton and Kintrea propose that the "beliefs and behaviours of an individual are directly
influence by those of their neighbourhoods, and in turn they directly influence the individual's
economic and social outcomes."(669) This theory is not meant to disparage those living within
impoverished neighbourhoods, but instead implies that if youth are continually exposed to less than
favourable conditions and do not see a means

The Hashtag Activism
I think hashtag activism is a great method for people all over America to have a say. Speaking of
social injustices and explaining what upsets someone gives rise to awareness of the injustice. The
first step in change is knowing you have to change. I feel with hashtag activism, because there are so
many things to support, so many movements people get lost in what they are supporting and so the
activism simply remains an idea. No actions are made to actually activate because people only
support on the internet, not many people are willing to actually go out and protest what they believe.
These kinds of people are called armchairm activists because they support from the comfort of their
couch. Saying you are going to do something and actually

Media Activism In Social Media
If social media and technology can be a great threat to the national security of United States,
imagine what it can do to a normal person? Now a days, wherever you go people are hooked on
their social media and technology. The social lives of people have been intertwined with the
unrealistic virtual world created by social media and technology. Technology and social media may
have successfully been used for activism, but it has made people addicted and fake through the use
of social media. The future of social activism is through the use of social media and technology.
According to Mainwaring, social media is great structure for the activist to pursue social activism
transformation. Activists spread their ideas by sharing information in order to make an emotional
and empathetic connection to warrant change. (Mainwaring). This allows people to spread ideas of
activism in–between groups, allowing for change for the well beings of other. For instance, when I
used was a volunteer at North Shore Animal Leagues, we used social media to persuade people to
adopting dogs with empathy and emotional photos. My time as a volunteer led to many adoptions of
dogs, all due to social media and technology. "For example, the use of virtual goods within Zynga's
FarmVille game on Facebook to raise funds for earthquake victims in Haiti"(Mainwaring). For
instance, when I used to play this game on Facebook I remember them adding an ad to donate to
The Red Cross for Haiti. It's amazing how

Activism Vs. Slacktivism
The issue of activism versus "slacktivism" – which is the key term coined that explains when
"people who are happy to click a 'like' button about a cause and may make other nominal, supportive
gestures. But they're hardly inspired with the kind of emotional fire that forces a shift in public
perception" (McCafferty, 2011, pg.1–2) – is at the heart of every debate over online or e–advocacy,
especially in regards to hashtag activism. Many people believe that due to the nature of social
media, people won't often go farther than using the hashtag associated with a tragic event.
Slacktivism suggest that concepts like hashtag activism do not translate to any real measurable
offline activism efforts or bring about social change.
McCafferty (2011) ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It discussed important concepts like the "token support", "meaningful support" and "tangible
contributions", all components that promote and
This article allows us to apply the results that Kristofferson, White & Peloza find on the process and
likelihood of people showing subsequent support after demonstrating initial support for a cause or
topic to how hashtag activism – an initial token of support – translates into offline activism that
results in measurable results – the subsequent, meaningful token of support – for a cause (in this
case, the Pulse nightclub shooting).
Their fourth case study, specifically, helps provide a lot of insight into why for Pulse there was not
only just use of the hashtag but also the subsequent support after (i.e. blood, money and time
donated). The article states that the more aligned a person is, the more an organization can use that
to their advantage to produce an increase in subsequent support for the cause, which is what many of
the local LGBT organization did by targeting the LGBT community. Coincidently, many of those
people used Pulse–related hashtags to show their solidarity and support, to give more than just
bringing awareness to the issue and victims. A lot of the examples and results from the various
studies, especially the

Nursing Activism In Nursing
Since the first days of nursing school, nurses have always been taught to advocate for their patients.
Standing up for them when they have no voice, assuring that they are receiving the proper
medication in the proper dosages, and maintaining their humanity in their final hours. In 2010 the
Institute of Medicine called for nurses to engage in health policy and lead in transformation of the
US healthcare system (Institute of Medicine(IOM), 2010). It has been years since this report and the
government is still lacking nursing representation. In the words of Abood (2007), The current health
care environment...challenges both nurses and patients who are often caught between the cross
currents of cost constraints and access to appropriate quality care (p.1).
A Review of the Literature
"Activism" as defined by Wikipedia "consists of efforts to promote, impede, or direct social,
political, economic, or environmental reform or stasis with the desire to make improvements in
society. Forms of activism range from writing letters to newspapers or to politicians, political
campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies,
street marches, strikes, sit–ins, and hunger strikes". Nurses have used activism over the years to
change and mold the career it currently is by striking for better wages, boycotting TV shows and
writing letters to politicians, just to name a few. In the daily job of a nurse they are advocating for
their

Technology Is A Positive Tool
Technology Is a Positive Tool In the anthology Points of Departure by Michelle J. Brazier, two
writers have compelling arguments about the influence of technology. In Ian Bremmer's essay,
Democracy in Cyberspace: What Technology Can and Cannot Do for Us, he argues that modern
communications and technology are just mediums or tools because they can be used for various
purposes. In Malcolm Gladwell's essay, Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted,
he argues that social networks are hurting social activism because less motivation is needed to
participate in online activities than in physical activities. Gladwell would respond to Bremmer's
essay by stating that social networks and other forms of modern communications create "weak ties"
because Gladwell believes that there is no genuine sacrifice when it comes to social networks and
other form of modern communication and therefore no significant change will be occur.
Contemporary forms of communications and technology are tools that could positively impact
society because individuals can use technology to express freedom on their own terms. Technology
itself will not create change because technology is an instrument, but it can be played in many
different ways for example being used to engage with knowledgeable strangers. Bremmer says,
"The Internet makes it easier for users with political interests to find and engage with others who
believe what they believe" (44). The example Bremmer uses is political interests

Social Media And The Media
However, "Contrary to the idea that social media creates a polarizing "filter bubble," exposing
people to only a narrow range of opinions, 70 percent of Millennials say that their social media
feeds are comprised of diverse viewpoints evenly mixed between those similar to and different from
their own. (American Press Institute, 2015, p. 3) This disputes the notion that everybody who
engages in social media receive a uniform message, and these diverse viewpoints also enables users
to become judicious in what content they are consuming. In the same American Press Institute study
researchers concluded, "nearly three–quarters of those exposed to different views (73 percent) report
they investigate others' opinions at least some of the time ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The study found Americans are selective consumers with behaviors varying reliant on the topic.
With this in mind we can hope groups other than millennials are not receiving a likeminded point of
view even if a clear proclamation cannot be made. All in all a multitude of voices talking about
assorted topics can only be good for public discourse, and could potentially impact mobilization.
The preceding paragraphs were aimed at providing a baseline of knowledge, show that social media
provides a wide variety of information, and to establish that its worthy of investigation. At the
moment there is a lack of research aimed at determining the impact of the public's use of social
media on Agenda setting, and priming. Yet, there has been research regarding social media and
mobilization that is quite promising. Thus far, mobilization is where social media has seen its
greatest impact. Mobilization is defined as, "the process by which candidates, parties, activists and
groups induce other people to participate" (Rosenstone & Hansen, 1993, p. 25). When taking the
definition for mobilization into account it is easy to understand why social media has shown
promise in this area. Social media supplies activists with the ability to circulate information, and
information is the means by which political activists recruit new members. Social media also creates
vast networks that ". . . allow people to assemble as individuals, with limited

The Rise Of Hacktivism : A Form Of Protest
The Rise of Hacktivism: a Form of Protest In this day and age living in the era of the computer, it
has become more mainstream and common to hear of cyber attacks, and crime being committed on
the internet. Activism however, has become a prominent way to protest or argue a political view.
Using related technologies and the internet have become a vital way for some to share their views.
With the rise of the internet, "hacktivism" has become a prominent way for protest groups to express
while also promoting a political agenda often related to free speech, human rights, and freedom of
information. Hacktivism has been defined using many adjectives, however the definition of the
word says it all: "the practice of gaining unauthorized access to a computer system and carrying out
various disruptive actions as a means of achieving political or social goals". (Dictionary.com)
Hacktivism while being technology based, can come in many forms. Some of these forms can be
more radical than others. To most, hacktivism may appear to be harmless to everyday life, but truly
shows a great threat towards the security of others. With hacktivism comes a hacktivist. A hacktivist
is someone who takes part in the sharing, creating, and execution of attacks on the internet. This
may be someone working towards change by using a set of technical skills they may have. Most
hacktivist tend to be critical thinkers whom already have jobs in the tech industry. Depending on
who may be using the word

Social Activism Today : The Definition Of Activism Today
Activism today is not what activism has been in the past. Social media and the internet have taken
over and changed what the definition of Activism is in this new generation. Malcolm Gladwell in
Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted states, "The new tools of social media have
reinvented social activism." I very much agree with this. In the past it was protested, and fought for.
Many people were hurt or even killed over what they believed was right. Today those who consider
themselves activists think they are helping all they can by posting an Instagram picture, seeing how
many shares they can get from their Facebook posts, or how many retweets they receive. Don't get
me wrong, social media has changed the way we spread the news. When something big in the world
happens it takes about two minutes for almost every social media site or website to post about it,
even though sometimes it's not always correct or all of the information. However, it has also made
us lazy. When we don't agree with something or want to change something we don't go out and
speak our mind or have a protest. We sign a petition on Facebook or even just complain about it on a
website.
One situation that let me know social media had definitely taken over was when I helped out this
past year in my town's election polling stations. Not even half the town showed up to vote or even
register. We live in a very small town so everyone has everyone on social media and I saw about
fifty statuses about

Adbusters Media Foundation: An Active Space for Participation
Adbusters Media Foundation:
An Active Space for Participation
We live in the age of consumerism; we are constantly surrounded by advertisements in our everyday
environments. Through television, print, billboards, radio, the Internet and countless other mediums,
it seems as though we cannot escape ads. We have become so accustomed to advertisements that
most of the time we are unaware of the impact they can have on us. To help us become more aware
of the effects of advertisements and consumerism, activist groups like Adbusters has helped bring
more attention and awareness to how information and meaning gets generated and transmitted in our
society today.
Adbusters is labeled as a media activist group, that is a non–profit ... Show more content on
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This led to Lasn and his friend Schmalz to launch Adbusters the magazine and the Media
Foundation in hopes of providing a medium to critique and counteract against advertising,
consumerism and the way meaning gets transmitted to the public (Lynch, 1997). Adbusters
describes itself as "a global network of artists, activists, writers, pranksters, students, educators and
entrepreneurs who want to advance the new social activist movement of the information age. Our
aim is to topple existing power structures and forge a major shift in the way we live in the 21st
century" (Sandlin & Milam, 2008, p. 328).
Adbusters focus heavily on two main issues, how mass media colonizes space and how capitalism
and consumption are disrupting our natural environments (Rumbo, 2012). Adbusters largest
communicative practice is their magazine, Adbusters. Adbusters magazine is not–for–profit and is
mainly supported by their readers and donations (Sandlin & Milam, 2008). The magazine has an
international circulation of about 85,000 and about 20,000 online readers that read up on their
articles and stories (Sandlin & Milam, 2008). This was all accomplished without any advertisements
in their magazine. The content of the magazine is generated by its staff members as well as activists
alike; the magazine contains commentaries and articles criticizing how advertising, large
corporations and consumerism

Analysis Of ' The Hashtag '
Everyone has had that secret moment with their friends that no one knows about. You know, that
moment when one friend says the code word an all of you all burst out laughing. The "insider" that
only your friends and you know about and no one can relate to unless they were there. Trending
around the country is the new hashtag phenomenal #growingupblack. The hashtag has become a fun
way for the black community to bond together and reminisce about childhood memories. Although,
the hashtag started on social media the statement of the hashtag #growingupblack has a deeper
message. In between the lines #growingupblack is a form of activism that is continuously spreading
with the help of social media. The hashtag #growingupblack is the ultimate insider that the black
community nationwide can relate too. The hashtag growingupblack is self– explanatory. The hashtag
recounts the good, bad and hilarious moments about the experiences of growing up black. Rather, it
recounts the time you went to the store and your mother told you not to touch nothing or that
memory when your mother warned you to be in the house before the streetlight came on, it takes
one down memory lane. For, many the hashtags brought back laughable moments. This hashtag
created rib–tickling visuals (meme) of ones most precious moments. The hashtag #growingupblack
was an open opportunity for the black community to willingly embracing and accept, the things that
may have been extremely embarrassing moments in one's

Wael Ghonim's Revolution
Pen is Mightier than the Sword: Social Media Activism Helps Egypt's Revolution
In 2010, Wael Ghonim was an ordinary, young professional living in Dubai. While browsing
through his social media content, he randomly stumbled upon a gruesome photograph of a young
man who had been beaten to death by the Egyptian Police. That one glance and that one brief
moment sculpted Ghonim's mission in life. Infuriated by the brutality displayed, Ghonim created a
Facebook page dedicated to the deceased individual in Egypt. "Today they killed Khaled," he wrote.
"If I don't act for his sake, tomorrow they will kill me." It took a few moments for Ghonim to settle
on a name for the page, one that would fit the character of an increasingly personalized and
politically galvanizing Internet. He finally decided on "Kullena Khaled Said"–"We Are All Khaled
Said" (Vargas, 2012). Within minutes, a hundreds of people sharing his emotions and frustration
joined the page. That number soon escalated to two hundred and fifty thousand. "We Are All Khaled
Said" became a revolutionary chant that brought thousands of Egyptians on the streets of Cairo to
host a mass ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It was the only common and free ground for activists to plan the whole movement. Starting from
where to meet and when to meet, groups and pages dedicated to the movement went on to even
guide the protestors on how to dress and to behave at the rally on January 25, 2011. "Instructions for
the protest were clearly disseminated on Facebook: Stand 5 feet apart, so as not to break Egyptian
laws against public demonstration; be absolutely silent; no signs; wear black, as determined in an
online vote; stand on the banks of the river or sea for one hour only, then walk away" (Sutter, 2011).
Eventually, on January 25, Tahir Square was flooded with people and their compassion. The digital
movement, therefore, turned into

The And The World Wide Web
In chapter 11, the author of our text says, in part: "Learning what is true and what is not true is
harder today than it once was. The difficulty is not because of a lack of information. We have more
information and more points of view available to us than ever in history. A few clicks on any topic
and you get thousands of entries. In fact, perhaps we get too much information. We get so much that
we are often overwhelmed.... A second problem today is that we should not necessarily believe what
we see or hear." He also says: "Our political culture teaches us to learn to be ignorant about
politics." Our generation is one that has more exposure than any prior generation to twenty four hour
reports on multi–media devices. Thanks to the internet and the World Wide Web, we have at our
disposal many viewpoints and a wealth of information. This does not necessarily mean that our
generation is more informed or knowledgeable than prior ones. Not all information we are exposed
to is true or unbiased.
"Learning what is true and what is not true is harder today than it once was". This statement by the
author of our text could refer to the fact that our technology today is so advanced that photographs
and videos can be altered in such a way that no one is the wiser. Just because you are shown a photo
or video does not mean it is a realistic representation of what actually happened. You cannot always
believe what you see. One example of manipulation to a photo is an article in the LA Times

The Art Of Activism In Art
Activists make their messages and movements known through art in order to express messages,
validate identities, and to make struggles known, calling themselves ARTivists to show that there is
an often undervalued intersection between the two. But before the coining of the term, activists have
been creating art to advance themselves and their communities. ARTivists within the Chicano
community have especially been creating art in order to validate and record their own experiences.
ARTivism is crucial in today's society and culture as it intersects art and politics in order to
emphasize injustices that are deeply rooted within these structures. By decolonizing and
deconstructing exploitive structures, ARTivists liberate the oppressed while creating a more socially
conscious future by allowing the oppressed to create their own voice and tell their own stories.
ARTivism dismantles the idea of "art for art's sake" by giving a meaning to art. It exposes truths that
become hidden or are erased by social structures, which oppresses the people who live out those
truths. Portraying activism through this medium allows for people to connect in a creative way as art
is able to speak volumes for those who do not have a voice to speak out against injustices against
them. During the time of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers, Chicano farm workers
created a movement to fight for better wages and working conditions in the fields they worked. In
addition to protesting, they utilized

The Importance of Social Media to Activism Essay
Lindsey Brown Professor Daren Dean English 2000 22 March 2013 You Cannot Ignore the
Importance of Social Media According to Dictionary.reference.com, activism is the policy or action
of using campaigning to bring about political or social change. A huge campaign that is well known
across the world, the Civil Rights Movement, was brought about by Martin Luther King, Jr. King
risked his life everyday to ensure justice and equality for the African American race. "Small
Change" by Malcolm Gladwell gives insight on how activism is more effective than social media,
especially from one scenario at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Gladwell points out his strong belief of what activism can do for a society rather ... Show more
Another drawback is the potential to cause riots or outbreaks in a school, town, or even a country.
The countless amount of bullying that happens on social networks is evidence that if social media
participants are not careful about what they post on their social media pages and on the Internet for
public viewing, it can possibly trigger bias or prejudice judgments. Social networking sites began to
become popular in 2002 and although still in their youth, it has many disadvantages that should not
be overlooked. People should not have to be worried about what they put on social networks
because as Americans, we have freedom of speech. Thus it is reasonable for people to be skeptical
and oppose social media when runs the risk of being counterproductive. No matter how much
potential social media has for political or societal change it is important to criticize its negative
aspects. An article written by Andrea Moncada, begins her argument with the question has social
media had the same impact on advocacy. Similar to Gladwell's points of view, Moncada states,
"social media can help get the word around, but participants must be united by a core message and
traditional methods..." This source of uncertainty is the basis for its support and is understandable.
In addition to the fraudulent issue and the disadvantages it presents; there is a crucial distinction
between traditional activism and its online

George Zimmerman's Revolution: The Spread Of Social Media
The Lazy Man's Revolution On the night of February 26, 2012 a young boy walks home after
buying a snack from a local 7–11. He does not live on this side of town but is here to visit his father.
The night seems like any other mundane, lazy Sunday; however, he is unaware that tonight he shall
meet the man that cuts his young life short. On that night the young man, Trayvon Benjamin Martin,
was gunned down by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman because Mr. Zimmerman
claimed to police that Trayvon Martin looked "suspicious". Mr. Zimmerman was brought to trial and
found not guilty of the death of an unarmed 17 year old boy. Shortly after the news of Zimmerman's
acquittal, a woman by ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this age, the traditional method of news delivery is dead. Gone are the days when newspapers and
television news anchors were the primary source of information. In today fast paced society, no
person has the time to read a newspaper or watch a news segment. Most individuals receive their
news from social media. Social media provides a stage on which any one person could inform others
on what occurs around them that they might be blind to. According to Ethan Zuckerman, author of
Rewire: Digital Cosmopolitans in the Age of Connection, "Social media's significance is that it is
recognising different incidents that might have gone unnoticed and sewing them together as a
coherent whole"(qtd, in Day). A single trending topic on Twitter can convey the ideas of a
movement and create a global conversation about the topic within a matter of minutes. Such
conversation would have not occurred without the help of social media. Ideas flow freely through
countries and now reach more and more people. Social media has been able to aide movements such
as the Black Lives Matter to broadcast the injustices being committed to a global audience. The
Black Lives Matter movement has been able to show to the world the inhumane and unjust
treatments of African–Americans in present day America by posting videos of unarmed African–
American men being killed by police officers. Due to its overwhelming online

The Impact Of Online Activism On Hong Kong
Online activism is increasingly advocated in many modern societies by allowing activists to
instantly spread and deliver information to a broader audience. In the digital age, activists can easily
raise awareness, share videos and opinions through various online platforms. This new phenomenon
of activism driven by media technologies has been widely used in Hong Kong to retain human
rights, protesting for more autonomy and democracy. Given the ability of online activism to raise
awareness and rally support for different political or social movements, it places great challenge for
the Hong Kong and Mainland Chinese authorities to keep their power intact.
This paper will examines how Hong Kong civil societies have used online activism to ... Show more
To answer these questions, this paper argues that online activism can be successful in mobilizing
supporters together, but not necessarily effective in achieving the desired outcome due political
boundaries. This paper is divided into five main parts: part one introduces the theoretical framework
of activism and the use of media technologies to support for human rights. Part two explores how a
unique Hong Kong identity was created during the years as a British colony and examines the
degree of democracy in Hong Kong after the handover of sovereignty in 1997. Part three uses case
studies of the July 1 protest and the Umbrella Movement in Hong Kong to illustrate the use of media
in convening for supporters. Part four evaluates the effectiveness of using online activism to pursue
social and political changes as demonstrated in the two case studies. Finally, this paper examines the
responses from government authorities in tackling Internet activism and how some are deemed to
violate basic human rights.
Activism has always been present throughout history whilst using digital platforms have further
drive it to a next level. Activism is the ability to act, influence or even change the course of history.
Societies today did not become the way it is naturally, rather, it is shaped by historical events and is
constantly changing in response to the stances and actions of the citizens. Activism entails the
actions of promoting, impeding government policies or social issues

Re-Interpreting Internet Activism: A Study of Its...
With the increasing number of protests mobilised through social networks, the Internet is coming to
be seen either as a force of liberation or as the new generation's "cyber–utopia", creating unfounded
optimism and hopes of emancipation. The former view claims that social networks play a key role in
shaping debates about protests and in spreading democratic ideas around the globe (especially in the
case of Arab Spring).The latter view advocates that the role of internet has been exaggerated in the
narratives of these protests because the very working class which fuelled the revolution did not have
access to these technologies. This view suggests that it is not Facebook or Twitter that has brought
about these revolutionary changes but ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Considering the political climate and the nature of public participation before and after the advent of
internet activism, this paper suggests that there is a strong correlation between the nature of the state
(comprising of the ideologies of the regime and its people), internet activism and its outcomes.
Drawing from theoretical frameworks and linking it to incidences of digital age protests around the
world, this paper argues that the question of internet activism contributing to the evolution of the
process of public participation can be answered holistically only if the nature of the state is taken
into account.
Middle East
It is with the Arab Spring that the advent of internet activism was acknowledged worldwide. For the
first time, the internet was used in mass mobilization of the citizenry
To illustrate further, in countries like Egypt and Tunisia, citizens have made effective use of social
networks to catalyse the revolution. The success of the Egyptian revolt should also be attributed to
the lack of opposition from the military and the elite (who succumbed under the social and
economic pressure) in addition to the

The Liberties, Ideologies, And Effects Of Hacktivism
This paper discusses the liberties, ideologies, and effects of hacktivism. Hacktivism, is the
combination of hacking and activism, and is where a hacker creates a technology–centered
disturbance with a political or social motive. Unlawful hackers typically cause cyber damage for
amusement, or monetary gain. While traditional hackers are perceived as criminals, hacktivists are a
transgressive group. Cyberterrorism is the most extreme version of hacking, where the goal is to
cause permanent damage. There are benefits to hacktivism such as, anyone can log on and share
their opinion, regardless of their location or position. However, some forms of hacktivism may be
closer to cyberterrorism, where there may be a malicious intent. Controversy ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
In reality, hackers are a variety of people, with a range of reasons for what they do. Hacking began
in the late seventies and early eighties out of curiosity. Quickly, people began to realize the potential
for destruction through cyber attacks. From 2008 to 2012, the hacktivist group Anonymous, became
prevalent, because pretty much any amateur with a cause what kind of cause could join
Anonymous.. But after several group figureheads were arrested, the general public was deterred
from participating this hacktivist group.
From 2012 to the present, the door opened for hacktivist specialists beyond Anonymous, to cause
destruction. Hacktivism has shifted from large amounts of amateurs causing minimal damage, to
small amounts of hacking specialists causing tremendous amounts of damage. Due to the fact that
the Internet is largely privatized, it is very hard for hacktivists to get their point across to a large
number of people without breaking the law. So, a free speech space needs to be established online to
ensure that everyone has a chance to speak their mind on a "digital sidewalk." The extreme side of
hacktivism is cyberterrorism. Terrorist groups like ISIS have begun to hire specialists to wage
cyberwar for their religious and political gain. The Internet battlefield has become just as important
as a physical one.
However, not all hackers are terrorists, criminals, or even hacktivists. Some hackers take up

Essay on Nonviolent Resistance Helped by Communication...
Non–violent activism has played a critical role in several transitions from authoritarianism like, the
withering away of the Soviet Union and the Apartheid in South Africa. For many activists, non–
violent action has become an effective way to achieve social or political goals. Peter Ackerman and
Christopher Kruegler, the authors of "Strategic Nonviolent Conlfict: The Dynamics of People Power
in the Twentieth Century," mention how the appearance of non–violent action as a weapon of choice
in resolving conflict is continuously increasing. However, social activists must pay close attention to
the relationship between new, mainstream and social media outlets and social movements due to the
fact that the success and outcomes of several social ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Gaining positive media coverage is crucial, as social movements rely on the media for mobilisation
of political support, legitimisation in mainstream discourse and to broaden the scope of conflicts.
Positive media coverage is important because one can argue that today many people are replacing
opinions as facts due to the media's ability to dupe the masses. In the article "The News Media's
Influence on Peace Operations" written by, Warren Strobel, he describes this phenomena as the
"CNN effect." He also discusses the "CNN curve" which is the ability to influence public opinion by
broadcasting images of starvation, or other tragedies on news networks. The ability for networks to
reach a vast audience with strong and influential messages has been facilitated through an increase
in technology, the internet and other communication devices. Messages are instantaneously
displayed on TV screens, online newspapers and pod casts, allowing for people all over the world to
have instant access to critical events. An example of mainstream media's effect on grassroots
activism, is the White March that took place in Belgium on October 20, 1997. The White March was
a massive demonstration that included about 300,000 citizens. The demonstration surrounded the
controversy of the arrest of murder Marx Dutroux. Stefaan Walgrave and Jan Manssesn studied the
media coverage of this demonstration and concluded that, the media itself contributed to a majority

Design Ideas, Creativity And Technique
Introduction: According to Fuad–Luke, (2009) Design activism is the process of 'design ideas,
creativity and technique that carried out intentionally or unintentionally to develop a counter–
narrative intended at creating and managing constructive social, institutional, ecological and/or
economic revolution.' The Design Activists have a prominent effect on the society in a way that the
designs produced by them have a deep relationship with the culture and different kinds of people
perceive their ideas in a different way. The design ideas could range from a very small
advertisement to a large signage system to save lives of people in critical situations. As designs also
have a greater impact on our thoughts, so everything appears to us through a different angle, thus
revealing the nature in different ways as well. The concepts of design, which are to be used for
activism, are still very narrow and it has created many problems and confusions in the minds of the
people. By having conceptualized designs any designer can promote activism for social movements,
whereas misleading design ideas can create a lot of social and economic problems. By having
accurate and robust designs the ideas of people will get clear and design activism will be easily
accessible within the field of design. The vision lies in the motion and therefore a lot of design
activists are enhancing their designs to a benefit the communities and improving the environment
and on the other hand the designs, which

Clicktivism Book Report
How Clicktivism Killed the Activist Since it's conception, the resounding sentiment at the heart of
any activist movement has been the desire to have one's voice heard. The common ambition of
activists of every kind has always been to represent the needs and injustices of the marginalized
communities in question, and in doing so, to bring about change. Margaret Mead, a cultural
anthropologist, and an outspoken feminist once said, "never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world; indeed it's the only thing that ever has." However, in
recent years, activism has begun to take on a very different form. This once small group of
thoughtful and committed citizens dedicated to justice have multiplied exponentially ... Show more
Much of the incentive to become an activist is to be a part of a movement; an integral cog in the
changing of history. One indisputable benefit of social media is its ability to effectively inform
millions of people at once; this is infinitely powerful. The interactive format of social networking
invites individuals to educate themselves on an issue and then to contribute to it, all in under ten
minutes. Despite its efficiency, the detriment of this system is that it perpetuates the idea that the
signing of a change.org petition is all it takes to make a difference. Grassroots activism and
petitioning, while absolutely fundamental parts of the pursuit of social justice are often only the
inciting steps in the lengthy and usually complicated process of creating lasting change. In 2014, in
the wake of the deaths of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Tamir Rice, to name just a few, an
international movement protesting police brutality began with the hashtag #blacklivesmatter. The
issue of racially induced police brutality became a relevant topic of debate in the presidential
election that followed, and protests took place worldwide. This movement is winning a major battle
in the war against racism and much of this success was owed to its sensational presence on social
media. The Black Lives Matter movement is an example of social networking being an invaluable
tool in spreading

Social Media Activism
While in this course, I have found myself becoming gradually more and more drawn to the idea of
media activism in relation to new media policy. The topic of change and improvement means a lot to
me when it comes to current issues in media policy in general, and I found myself very intrigued by
what Malcolm Gladwell had to say about the laziness, easiness and security that comes with being
an online activist in this century. I sincerely believe that media activism is not getting the credit it
deserves in a day and age where the internet is such a powerful tool to bring people closer together
to do outstanding things. This being said, there are several arguments on either side of this debate on
activism. In this paper I would like to take Gladwell's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
By saying this, Rapping is arguing that television pays an important role in media activism. But with
this being said, who has control over information shared on the television? Certainly the control is
not in the individuals who are activists, but rather is in the hands of corporations and the
government. Media, in a way makes it harder for activists to have their voices heard, and even taken
seriously. Ryan goes on to write "Today, the mass media, especially TV are among the most
important institutions maintaining, reinforcing and reproducing existing inequities in power. Since
media controls the range of views to which audiences are exposed, media coverage can obscure–and
can even reverse– public opinion towards repressive social policies" (Ryan 7). This statement,
indeed reinforces the idea that the media controls views by swaying the public's opinion on political
topics. For example, the recent war in Syria has been drastically skewed when it comes to North
American TV media stations. Not only are we being told that troops going over there to fight is
okay, but we are also being told that Syrian refugees should not be allowed in North America. This
is quite a hot topic at the moment, and either way, you can see how the media is often times
completely one–sided and biased. This, in my opinion makes it very hard for media activism to take
place, especially on television. The internet is a little bit of a different story, because people can
openly voice their opposing views

Activism Social Movements
Does the use of social media have an impact on the involvement of social movements in society?
Throughout the years, social media has had a powerful impact on how the world communicates
today. It is a big part of our life nowadays.The new tools of social media have reinvented social
activism. They make it easier for the powerless to give voice to their concerns. Although sometimes
when current issues are all over social media, they only attract Facebook likes or Twitter favorites.
This can also be referred as, Slacktivism. Slacktivism is actions performed through the Internet in
support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or no involvement. But like
it only attracts Twitter or Facebook likes, it does attract supporters and raises awareness. The use of
social media has an impact on the involvement of the social movements in society.
Social media causes may attract more likes ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Internet activism allows more people to become aware of a situation. Awareness is how political will
is generated (Internet Activism). When slacktivism is used outside the theater of protest to do things
like generate money, it's still highly effective (Internet Activism). K. Kristofferson suggests that,
"getting people to join private online groups may be a way to turn 'likes' into meaningful
participation."(9) Sure, fewer people will donate when they hear about a cause on social media ––
people who actively seek out charity work are certainly more likely to donate to a cause. If a charity
exponentially expands their awareness by expanding to social media, fewer people need to donate
for that organization to meet their goals (Slacktivism). People cannot create change if they do not
know about the issues or support a movement they have never heard of. Awareness is necessary for
activism, and slacktivism sends waves of awareness across countries and

Case Study Of Cyber-Terrorism
Case study: Anonymous
While the motivation of terrorist acts remains the same, the rapid evolution of technique has
provided to those that use terror as a method to attain their goals, new weapons with a potential that
is not fully quantified. The database, the measures of protection and security, the equipments meant
to reassure our safety are exposed to those new types of weapons, the traditional methods of fight
becoming impractical.
The cyber–crimes are a supplement for cyber–terrorism in what concerns the methods used although
the motivations are different from each person. Many of these attacks are made either to produce
anarchy, for amusement, to reaffirm the hacker?s position, or from a political motivation.
When speaking of cyber–terrorism, the first thing to take into consideration is the geographic
component that vanish and there is a slight chance on the terrestrial identification of the attacker due
to the fact ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry did this on 30 May 2013 on the grounds that this Fawkes mask ?
inculcate a culture of violence and extremism? after having destroyed all the masks from shops. In
the same month, the port masks during riots or unauthorized gatherings were forbidden by law in
Canada and may incur prison sentences of up to 10 years.
In January 2012, the Guy Fawkes mask has become a symbol of the anti–ACTA – the controversial
treatise against copyright infringement – and was infiltrated in protests in Romania. In the same
year, on 24th November, anarchists, nationalists in Sydney, Australia, participated in a pro–
Palestinian rally to show their support for the people of Gaza, all wearing Guy Fawkes masks. The
masks also have appeared at anti–government protests in Thailand and Turkey and some
demonstrators used them in the riots in

How Does Social Media Influence Activism
Social Media's Influence on Activism Starting in mid–July a trend began to take over social media
websites such as Facebook and Instagram. All of a sudden one day I wake up and while viewed my
feed in Instagram, I noticed people throwing buckets full of ice water over their heads. As the days
went by, the people were no longer strangers, but little by little I started noticing co–workers and
close friends doing the same. Out of curiosity I began to read the video's descriptions wondering
what this was all about. The descriptions were all full of hash tags that read, #icebucketchallenge,
#alsicebucketchallenge, and #strikeoutals. With more research, I discovered that the ice bucket
challenge as they called it is done to raise money and awareness ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The Ice Bucket Challenge raised awareness and donations to the ALS foundation. The Occupy Wall
Street movement allowed Americans to express their frustrations with banking practices and
financial regulations that affect the 99%. This movement allowed for future banking plans to
change, such as the idea to charge debit–card fees last year and student loan relief plans creating re–
payments easier for students and forgiveness programs. Having knowledge is very powerful and
social media allows people to become aware and research what is going on in the world around
them. Valenzuela explains that social media can either be used to search intentionally for certain
information or by accidently coming across the information by being friends with someone who is
interested in political actions, this allows for learning to take place and increases the probability for
political action to occur (923). Even if the results are not the desired ones, the movements and
support from others creates a sense of togetherness, humanity and support. With more awareness
people will continue to get together, join a cause and fight for a common

Protest In Gerbaudo's Tweets And The Streets
What is protest?/Examples?
Protests and social movements usually take place within state systems. State authorities and decision
makers concerning the change and reforms responding to the demands of protestors are usually the
intended targets. Whilst the majority of social movements and protests within the 21st century are
aimed at the state, it is still known for protestors to occasionally challenge non state establishments
like religious organizations and university administrations (Johnston, 2011:1). Social movements
includes a range of political activities including but not limited to demonstrations, marches, protests,
press conferences, strikes, presentations and even sometimes violent confrontations (Johnston,
2009:8).
Previous Protest ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are structures that have formed as a result of protest, that are really powerful. It is just that
you did not need those structures to begin protest. You are enough to start a movement. Individual
people can come together around things that they know are unjust. And they can spark change. Your
body can be part of the protest; you don't need a VIP pass to protest. And Twitter allowed that to
happen. Ferguson exists in a tradition of protest. But what is different about Ferguson, or what is
important about Ferguson, is that the movement began with regular people. There was no Martin,
there was no Malcolm, there was no NAACP, it wasn't the Urban League. People came together who
didn't necessarily know each other, but knew what they were experiencing was wrong. And that is
what started this. What makes that really important, unlike previous struggle, is that–who is the
spokesperson? The people. The people, in a very democratic way, became the voice of the struggle
(Belartsky,

Activist Movement In The Civil Rights Movement
An activist is a person who campaigns for some kind of social change. Being an activist means
being involved in a protest or a political or social cause. Many different activist groups exist around
the world, fighting for different beliefs and reasons. Protesting, or being an activist against racial
inequality has always existed in America. Activism for racial equality in America was widely known
with rights for African Americans after slavery but since then diversity has increased over time. Not
only is there still activism for racial equality among African Americans, but also for many other
races that have made America their home, that discrimination. Many things since the Civil Rights
Movement have also changed, like technology and the use of social media and how it collaborates
with activism. Activism is a big part of American History. One of the most known activist
movements in American history is the Civil Rights Movement. The movement was a non–violent
protest against racial segregation and discrimination of African Americans. The Civil Rights
Movement began in 1954 and ended in 1968 and was led by Martin Luther King. The Civil Rights
Movement commenced with the liberation of slavery. The movement included peaceful protests and
speeches. It angered White people to think that African Americans deserved the same rights as them
because they wanted to be superior race and thought of the Blacks as animals.
Another group fighting for racial equality for Black People is

Argumentative Essay On Social Media
Society's dependence on a vast array of information and communication technology has not only
changed the way we communicate but has also reinvented social activism. Social networking sites
like Twitter and Facebook and forum websites like Reddit has given digital activism more potential
than ever before to create real change. Whether the activism pertains to political, social or economic
changes–digital technology allows individuals working collectively to achieve a common purpose
with more ease in their pursuit of change. In the aftermath of the Arab uprisings the role and
influence of social media became a contentious issue among news media outlets and political
analysts. In a study conducted by the Pew Research Center Project for Excellence in Journalism,
"New research suggests that the primary role was in spreading news outside of the region,
connecting a global audience to the events through tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube."
While the mainstream media focused heavily on young protesters mobilizing in the streets with
smartphones in hand–much of the attention was on whether social media played a causal role in the
uprisings. Networks formed online are crucial components formed online are crucial components for
mobilizing groups and spreading information. Digital technology brought into the forefront the role
and impact of citizen journalism. Unlike traditional media outlets like CNN and the New York
Times–citizen journalism enables anyone with an

Is Hacktivism Morally Permissible?
Is Hacktivism Morally Permissible?
In Himma's terms, "hacktivism will be understood as involving unauthorized digital intrusions for
the purpose of protesting some injustice or advancing some political agenda." (Himma 14) An
unauthorized digital intrusion is the manipulation of computers and networks belonging to someone
else who in turn has their property rights violated. (Himma 1) Himma argues hacktivism is morally
impermissible if and only if it harms innocent people or if the hacktivist stays anonymous in relation
to the act, through three premises in Hacking as Politically Motivated Digital Civil Disobedience: Is
Hacktivism Morally Justified? In this paper I am going to explore Himma's argument and object to
his premise that the amount of harm that is produced by an act of hacktivism depends on the moral
nature of the attack and the moral standing of the victims. First Himma's argues that, to determine if
an act of hacktivism is morally justified depends on how much harm is done. Himma's first premise
shows that there is a possibility that some acts of hacktivism potentially can be morally permissible,
but often acts labeled as hacktivism are not. For example, a harmful act of hacktivism that should
not be considered morally permissible by Himma's standard was when Sony experienced one of the
most impactful hacktivist acts by LulzSec in April, 2011. LulzSec is an anarchist group that came up
with an effective strategy of using social media and clever

Write An Essay On Hacktivism
It is not a secret that some of the largest of United States events are skewed based upon media bias
and general misinformation provided by the outlets. When a group of individuals uses their tools to
create a blueprint for social change they use it as a call to arms for political and social activists to
begin a non–physical clash with the oppressive force. This is exactly what Anonymous, a small
organization of hacktivists fighting in the new medium, is all about. Hacktivism is defined as " the
nonviolent use for political ends of 'illegal or legally ambiguous digital tools' like website
defacements, information theft, website parodies, DoS attacks, virtual sit–ins, and virtual sabotage",
which is exactly what Anon is doing (Hampson 514). They take lessons stemming ... Show more
They are a progressive movement heading towards a common goal, privacy for all, which is
especially difficult in this technological age where anything you say can and will be heard. Many
people, however, see the group as a terrorist organization bent on destroying the government as a
whole. It is hard to paint a vivid picture of a movement with the bias already plastered by the media.
Quite simply, Anonymous exists to fuel the fire of radial individuals with a plethora of modern day
technology at their sides to introduce world–changing advances. Their influence and involvement in
21st century actions benefit the general public, despite what the media skews. What's important to
note about Anonymous is that there are no real leaders pulling the strings. The organization has no
hierarchal system, everyone involved is valued equally and regardless of race, gender or age, they
are invited to be part of something larger that started very small. In 2003 a young man named
Christopher Poole started

Activism Is Not For The Faint Of Heart
Activism is not for the faint of heart. The Greensboro Sit Ins were meticulously planned and
executed and those participating in the sit ins were faced with harassment, name calling, and
constant threats of violence from those in opposition. The Montgomery Bus Boycott left many
participants walking, hitchhiking, or cycling to work and called for the organization of alternative
forms of travel such as carpools. Those in alliance with the boycott faced both acts of violence and
jail time. Likewise, some participants in the Mississippi Freedom Summer Project were viciously
kidnapped and murdered, while others were beaten, shot at, and arrested. During the civil rights era,
activism could not be done halfheartedly, one had to immense themselves in the movement and face
the backlash that came with it on the forefront. This activism is in stark contrast with today's social
and political movements, because now our crusading can all be done safely online.
Social media's prevalence is undeniable. From raising awareness to calling people to action, outlets
like Facebook and Twitter have also become powerful tools for political and social revolutions. In
the African American community, however, the effectiveness of online activism ranges from little to
none. Issues dealing with black people are, more often than not, popular on social networking sites
for a short amount of time and afterwards they tragically fade into obscurity. Many supporters of
online movements rarely venture into

The Impact of the Internet and Social Media on Activism
Academic Writing and Critical Thinking – September 29, 2014
Assignment 4a – Draft
Joern Meier
Royal Roads University – Continuing Studies
Author Note
This assignment was prepared for Academic Writing and Critical Thinking, PAAP3858–A, taught by
Jessica Michalofsky
Academic Writing and Critical Thinking – September 29, 2014
Assignment 4a – Draft
Final Paper
The almost omnipresent Internet transforms our lives, connecting us to family, friends, and the
world in ways inconceivable only a few years ago. Through social media, we actively participate in
creating, editing, and consuming a never–ending stream of data. Private corporations and
protagonists of political or social change all vie to reach and engage highly targeted ... Show more
As a logical consequence, Postmes and Brunsting (2002) reasoned that the Internet is changing
society because people's cognitive processes, triggered by access to information and
communication, replace the strong social ties that traditionally underpin committed activism. In
simpler words, in the past, humanity used the herd instinct as the main driving force behind
committed forms of activism. Thanks to the Internet, we climb another step or three on the
evolutionary ladder, and simply do away with the herd instinct and replace it with reason. The
argument, if put this way, does not sound particularly strong. What can be taken away is that social
media is still evolving, that social media changes the way we – or most of us communicate, that
social media is used in social and political activism, and that the Internet increases quantitative if not
qualitative access to information.
The 2011 uprising in Egypt was in many ways a traditional brick–and–mortar revolution, but with a
cyber–twist to it: based on their statistical analysis of a large body of tweets related to the 2011
uprising in Egypt, Starbird and Palen (2012) observed that activists used Twitter as an important tool
to share ideas and information with like–minded people, because Twitter allows a high number of
activists interact using its retweet and other mechanisms. In this case, Twitter was used among
participants and supporters of a traditional mass movement to bypass government controlled

Online Social Justice Research Paper

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