The likes of Twitter and Facebook have introduced a social revolution. There are some seriously powerful platforms! This is why so many Activist groups are using social media platforms as part of their campaign. A very recognisable activist group 'Greenpeace' have been using blogging, posts and videos to spread their important messages and raise money towards their campaigns such as ‘get involved’. Digital Activism has allowed anyone to 'get involved' with campaigns expressing their views and supporting what they think is right. Today it is easy as a simple hashtag and you are on board with the latest campaign showing your support sending your message for the entire nation to view. “In terms of using social media for digital activism it has been said that Facebook can be utilised to form groups and change people’s minds in order to establish strong but flexible connections with other like-minded people” (Gerbaudo 2012)
I personally have never taken part as a Digital activist. Although, while I have been researching this forever debatable topic, I am going to make a conscious effort to get involved with campaigns I feel strongly about. Taking a closer look at the Digital Activism Project http://digital-activism.org/ I was able to undertand the true importance of Digital Citizenship. I was introduced to the likes of the #bringbackourgirls campaign and how these types of campaigns strive for the viewers attention. This is a great way to spread the word about overseas events and how we as a nation can create a better place for all society. ‘But as activists learn what can help them in their non-violent fight, we the people living in the “democratic West” are going to learn as much from them. Democracy is not a given, it is a process: and we need to maintain it, we need to care about it. Activists from all over the world help their people. But they also help us.’ (Arzaba 2013).
Digital activism workshops for human rights defenders, held in Florence. Picture by Andrea Arzaba 2013.
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/getinvolved/
https://www.facebook.com/greenpeace.international
Gerbaudo, P 2012, Tweets and the streets: Social media and contemporary activism, Pluto press, London. Pg 3.
http://digital-activism.org/about/about-the-project/
[image] Available at: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/05/28/human-rights-activists-hone-digital-skills-in-2013-empowerment-lab/
Arzaba, A 2013, Human Rights Activists Hone Digital Skills in 2013 Empowerment Lab, found at: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2013/05/28/human-rights-activists-hone-digital-skills-in-2013-empowerment-lab/
