Digital activism

 

'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.' -Margaret Mead (Inspirational quotes, 2012)

     Wow, what a huge issue to be discussing. Activism itself has been defined as "The doctrine or practise of rigorous action or involvement as a means of achieving political or other goal, sometimes by demonstrations, protests, etc " (Dictionary.com). the digital side is obviously the platform in which the activism is getting it's publicity.
     This brings to mind firstly for me, the movement on Facebook last year that was both widespread, traumatic and moving. The KONY 2012 movement was a video released on UTube, trying to raise awareness about Joseph Kony abducting thousands of African children and turning them into little soldiers, killing at his command ( KONY 2012 Official video). Now why this issue got under so many people's skins could be put down to the fact that this issue was about children. Helpless, harmless children. I personally cried the first time I watched this video. I got mad, I wanted KONY's head on a platter. I have two young boys and to think someone has the power in whatever country it may be to come into your home, take your children, and make them do things to others that they will never be able to forgive themselves for is mortifying. Then I wrote a university assignment on this movement. Not only was there widespread support for this case, but there was also a lot of criticism following this video's release. There were questions about whether Joseph Kony was even still alive, questions about the motives for the video, and also questions about the creator of the video's moral integrity ( Huffington Post, 2012).
     Did watching this video make me a better person? I don't think so. Did it make me aware of an issue I had previously been unaware of? Of course it did. What did I do about it? Nothing. I watched the video, I cried, I even had discussions with some family members and friends about it. But did I physically do anything? No, I did not. Does this make me a 'Slacktivist'? The Urban dictionary.com coined 'slactivism as ;

The act of participating in obviously pointless activities as an expedient alternative to actually expending effort to fix a problem (Urban Dictionary.com, 2008).

     Oops, I was made aware of an issue, but by doing nothing I became a slactivist. I am a keyboard warrior! I defend the rights of the less fortunate and hard done by all whilst sitting in my lounge room on my laptop drinking a cup of coffee and watching 'The doctors' on television.



     So does digital activism work? I guess that depends on the outcome you are wanting to achieve with it. If you want a mass movement I truly don't think this is the way to go, but for exposure to an issue there is no better way to have to plastered in the faces of thousands of people. A post on Facebook may only take seconds to be liked and shared all over the world, but is it really making a difference?

References

UTube, 2012, KONY 2012 official video, viewed 11th December 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M2vjy6aSkg

Huffington post, 2012. Jason Russell Arrested, viewed 11th December 2012 <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/16/jason-russell-arrested-invisible-children-

kony_n_1354455.html

Inspirational quotes; Margaret Mead, 2012, viewed 11th December 2012 <http://voices.yahoo.com/ten-inspirational-motivational-quotes-social-justice-2324663.html

Urban Dictionary.com, 2008, viewed 11th December 2012 <http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slacktivism

UTube, 2012, KONY 2012 official video, viewed 11th December 2012 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M2vjy6aSkg