A Handbook for Social Change in the Digital Age
A Handbook for Social Change in the Digital Age
The speed with which relationships, ideas, and information are shared is accelerating due to technology. Social media is thereby transforming communication and information access on a national and international level. The ease with which information may now be distributed widely and shared has changed many aspects of contemporary life, including how we perceive, relate to, and participate in social justice and activism.
The Relationship Between Social Media and Activism
Through social media, people have found innovative new methods to interact and work together. Social media platform features like feeds, profiles, and groups give businesses access to a global audience so they can network, share, and advertise their products and services. These virtual platforms are studied by students of modern communication, who can even go on to work in the production and distribution of digital information. Social media has the capacity to amplify voices, instantly disseminate information, and foster greater collaboration across various groups of people.
Here are several movements and trends that, in part because of their popularity on social media, have become part of the national and international debate.
Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS
In 2014, the ALS Association organized an ice bucket challenge to raise money and awareness for the condition ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often known as Lou Gehrig's disease). The quantity of the donation was significant for the association because it allowed it to fund research and assistive technology projects, as well as expand ALS patients' access to healthcare and services.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge entailed emptying a bucket of ice water over one's head or the head of another person to raise money for ALS research. Due in part to its nomination process, the challenge quickly gained popularity on social media: Once someone had finished the challenge, they would suggest other people take it on.
Islamic Spring
In Tunisia in the early 2010s, there were a number of rallies, uprisings, and violent rebellions that swiftly expanded to other countries in North Africa and the Middle East. The harsh governments and low living standards were the targets of the revolutions.
The youthful protestors that participated in the "Arab Spring" are remembered for taking to the streets and using social media to organize, raise awareness of the political issues, and record the experience on the ground. The importance and relevance of citizen journalists nowadays has been emphasized by the use of social media in political uprisings, the documentation of violent crime, the exercise of free speech, and the creation of spaces for civic engagement.
Studies on the Arab Spring protests go on how social media was used during these demonstrations and how it affected the local communities.
Locally created news that was shared and translated into mass and worldwide media helped bring concerns and occurrences into the global conversation. International pressure was put on autocratic countries to stop responding violently to protestors as a result.
White Lives Matter
The Black Lives Matter movement started as an online group that used the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter to fight against anti-black racism and police violence that specifically targets African Americans. The online community was able to unite, mobilize, and increase its visibility thanks to the hashtag and social media platforms, and eventually developed into an organization with more than 40 chapters that supports black lives.
Patrisse Khan-Cullors, co-founder and strategic advisor, was inspired by a video to launch the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
fatal interactions involving the police
act violently
Law enforcement and police acts
certain national political figures and parties
Race and racial prejudice
Events and protests for activists
Using social media and technologies like hashtags promoted knowledge sharing, aided in raising awareness, and gave the Black Lives Matter community a place online to coalesce and organize.
#LoveWins
The Supreme Court's decision to allow same-sex marriage in 2015 was applauded by a large audience on a variety of social media sites. In order to advance the marriage-equality story, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) had been working all year long with digital marketing campaigns, producing fresh content and language depicting devoted, loving same-sex couples.
Content Source:- https://online.maryville.edu/blog/a-guide-to-social-media-activism/
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