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Introduction
Social media is a digitally facilitated technology used to enable communication through virtual communities. Activism entails the efforts put into place to bring along the desired change in political, economic, and environmental policies for a perceived greater good (Nikunen 15). Activists use different forms to drive their agendas, such as movements. Digital activism has emerged prevalently over the past years with unpredictable impacts. Activists have now shifted to the use of social media to drive their goals to the public (Imre, and OBrien 357). Social media activism mainly uses published articles, videos, and audio to spread information to the target population. Social media has impacted activism both positively and negatively leading to its prosperity and downfall.
Discussion
The media is often used to pass information that is not available on the mainstream media and censored news. Typically, the media has promoted activism activities across their regions of operations. Social media has been a valuable tool in massing up large populations worldwide to help activists reach out for more support. Mostly the people who are hooked up are the young people who spend a lot of time on media platforms (Nikunen 15). Because of their enthusiasm and proactiveness to activism activities, the young people end up serving the activists better in promoting their agendas. The aims of the activists and their messages are spread further through the massed-up population reaching out to many.
The scope of activism has been dramatically expanded through the media. Relevant ideas that help in the activists conceptualization and their movements are mobilized through social media. By sharing their views with other people through the available online channels, they receive guidance and new ideas that promote their work scope and approach to issues of public concern (Brown et al. 835). Because of the conceptualization, the movements preferences are realized to be of salience and acted upon by those assigned that responsibility.
Communication above all others is the key to successful operations. Social media has provided the best platform for communication, easing information flow across the activists, supporters, and even the target audience as it allows for linkages amongst various parties involved (Imre and OBrien 362). The internet has provided a clear and consistent network that enables efficient communication at a low cost. Social media platforms are flexible enough to adjust the information and language used for ease of understanding as per ones ability (Carlson and Frazer 49). The media make it easier to obtain common idea framings for a general interpretation. Through communications, various activism movements get to network with other trends and support each others operations.
Activist leadership has faced a transitional change in leadership as new roles have emerged, and therefore, new leadership skills are required to lead online activism (Carlson and Frazer 47). Social media had provided new leadership strategies that have solved the need for a conventional leader. Media provides graphics that will help the activist leaders draft a message that will attract most peoples attention and provoke them. Online activism creates leadership chances for people who ideally could not have been trusted to lead successful activism.
Social media has promoted the protection of activism movements from exploitation from various authoritarian institutions and governments. When the activists conducted their duties on the ground through protests and demonstrations, the governments suppressed them using state machinery such as the police force (Brown et al. 1835). By working on the rallies by spreading awareness online, they have limited physical contact with the suppressors, guaranteeing their safety from assault as they fight for their struggles. The incredible support gathered through social media has also instilled fear of a strong fightback on the slightest provocation in authoritarian organizations.
Social media has enhanced activism by facilitating the creation of new movements. Social media have mobilized people to form activism groups through interactive communication. Because of the rapid flow of information on various happenings that are of importance to society, such as climate change, people are pulled to support the debate (Nikunen 15). The debate participants eventually team up, forming an online movement to fight against various injustices.
Through social media activism, movements have been able to increase their geographical coverage. Online movements have no geographical constraints in their interactions as compared to place-based rebellions. The operations of the campaigns are being conducted online, enabling people from far ends to take part. This increased coverage has led to the massive expansion of the movements and has given them an international voice allowing them to denounce anything regardless of where it is taking place (Nikunen 15). Because of the increased popularity, some activism groups have earned sponsorships from various organizations making it easy for them to finance their activities.
The use of social media has strengthened the activists building them and giving them a collective voice. The media has enhanced awareness amongst various organizations, other activists, and citizens. Through social media, the public has been made aware of social justice issues such as racism (Nikunen 15). The call for justice in different aspects is amplified to reach out to a vast number of people through a single message. Fundraisings too have been conducted successfully through social media to help finance activism.
Though social media played a positive role in promoting activism, it has also negatively impacted it. The movements no longer have the strong ties that existed amongst the members, this is so because online activist members lack physical contact and personal relationships amongst themselves (Uldam 47). There is little trust amongst the people and even demonstrations they organize compared to those launched through sit-ins. It is not easy for strangers to get to a joint agreement due to the weak relationship bond between them; this has negatively impacted the movements causing divisions.
Social media activism has created groups with false intentions of disrupting the peace. Information shared by these activists mainly cannot be sourced and confirmed as accurate. Most politicians use online groups to spread propaganda through social media. Because the target audience is large, there is a severe disruption of online and physical activities. They are causing demonstrations, property destruction, and killings unnecessarily (Brunner 6670). Though social media helps activism movements gain traction, it had also caused the downfall of others. Opposing movements engage in a cold war spreading false information about each other. This war redirects their focus, causing some to fall as they cannot keep up with the competition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, social media has played a crucial role in activism in recent past years. The media has provided a new look for the activism movements by giving them access to large groups of people, and enhancing communication and awareness amongst the people. The movements have gained popularity throughout vast regions enabling mass supporters across the areas. The media also came with a share of troubles for the rebellions. There is little trust amongst the members, which has impaired the activists activities and even resulted in their downfall.
Works Cited
Brown, Melissa, et al. # SayHerName: A Case Study of Intersectional Social Media Activism. Ethnic and Racial Studies, Vol. 40, no 11, 2017, pp 1831-1846.
Brunner, Elizabeth. Wild Public Networks and Affective Movements in China: Environmental Activism, Social Media, and Protest in Maoming. Journal of Communication, Vol. 67, no 5, 2017, pp 665-677.
Carlson, Bronwyn, and Ryan Frazer. Yarning Circles and Social Media Activism. Media International Australia, Vol. 169, no 1, 2018, pp 43-53.
Nikunen, Kaarina. From Irony to Solidarity: Affective Practice and Social Media Activism. Studies of Transition States and Societies, Vol. 10, no 2, 2018, pp 10-21.
Szeman, Imre, and Susie OBrien. Popular Culture: A Users Guide. John Wiley & Sons, 2017, pp 331-373.
Uldam, Julie. Social Media Visibility: Challenges to Activism. Media, Culture & Society, Vol. 40, no 1, 2018, pp 41-58.
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