🎙️Global Media Unit 8 – Social Media Activism: Power and Privacy

What's This Unit About?

• Explores the intersection of social media and activism in a global context
• Examines how social media platforms have become powerful tools for organizing, mobilizing, and amplifying social and political movements
• Investigates the power dynamics at play in online activism, including issues of access, representation, and influence
• Discusses the role of privacy and data security in the context of social media activism
• Provides case studies of successful social media campaigns that have effected change on a global scale
• Analyzes the challenges and criticisms faced by social media activists, such as online harassment, misinformation, and slacktivism
• Considers the future trends and implications of social media activism in shaping global conversations and driving social change

Key Concepts and Definitions

• Social media activism: The use of social media platforms to advocate for social, political, or environmental causes and mobilize collective action
• Hashtag activism: The practice of using hashtags on social media to raise awareness, organize, and promote a cause or movement (e.g., #MeToo, #BlackLivesMatter)
• Slacktivism: A term used to describe low-effort, low-impact forms of online activism, such as liking or sharing posts, that may not translate into meaningful change
• Digital divide: The gap between those who have access to digital technologies and the internet and those who do not, which can impact participation in online activism
• Algorithmic bias: The way in which algorithms used by social media platforms may perpetuate or amplify existing biases and inequalities
• Surveillance capitalism: The business model employed by many social media companies that involves collecting, analyzing, and monetizing user data for profit
• Online echo chambers: The phenomenon of people being exposed primarily to information and opinions that align with their existing beliefs, leading to increased polarization and the spread of misinformation

Historical Context of Social Media Activism

• Early instances of online activism date back to the 1990s, with the rise of email campaigns and online petitions
• The advent of Web 2.0 and social media platforms in the early 2000s (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) provided new tools for activists to organize and mobilize
• The Arab Spring (2010-2012) demonstrated the power of social media in facilitating political uprisings and challenging authoritarian regimes
  • Social media played a crucial role in spreading information, coordinating protests, and garnering international support
  • Movements in Tunisia, Egypt, and other countries in the Middle East and North Africa used platforms like Facebook and Twitter to bypass traditional media and communicate directly with the public
• The Occupy Wall Street movement (2011) and the global Occupy protests used social media to organize and coordinate actions against economic inequality and corporate influence in politics
• The #MeToo movement (2017) and subsequent iterations (#TimesUp, #NiUnaMenos) used social media to raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault, leading to a global reckoning across industries and sectors
• The Black Lives Matter movement, which began in 2013, gained significant traction and global support following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, with social media playing a central role in organizing protests and demanding racial justice

Power Dynamics in Online Movements

• Social media activism has the potential to democratize access to information and provide a platform for marginalized voices
  • Allows individuals and communities to bypass traditional gatekeepers (e.g., mainstream media, political institutions) and directly engage with a global audience
  • Enables the rapid dissemination of information and the coordination of collective action across geographical boundaries
• However, social media activism is not immune to existing power imbalances and inequalities
  • The digital divide can limit participation, with those lacking access to technology or digital literacy skills being excluded from online movements
  • Algorithmic bias can amplify the voices and perspectives of dominant groups while suppressing those of marginalized communities
  • Online harassment and abuse can disproportionately target activists from marginalized backgrounds, particularly women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals
• The attention economy of social media platforms can prioritize sensationalism and virality over substantive engagement with issues
  • Activists may feel pressure to create content that generates likes, shares, and followers, potentially compromising the depth and nuance of their message
• The commodification of user data by social media companies can undermine the privacy and security of activists and their networks
  • Surveillance capitalism can enable the monitoring and suppression of dissent by governments and other powerful actors

Privacy Concerns and Data Security

• Social media activism relies on the sharing of personal information and the formation of online networks, which can raise significant privacy concerns
  • Activists may be vulnerable to surveillance, hacking, and doxxing (the public release of private information) by adversaries seeking to intimidate or silence them
  • The use of social media platforms for organizing and communication can leave digital trails that can be used to identify and target activists
• Many social media companies collect, analyze, and monetize user data as part of their business model, raising questions about the security and ethical use of this information
  • Activists may be unaware of the extent to which their data is being collected and used, or the potential risks associated with this practice
  • The sale of user data to third parties, including advertisers and political campaigns, can enable the microtargeting of individuals based on their online behavior and interests
• The use of encryption and secure communication tools can help protect the privacy and security of activists and their networks
  • End-to-end encryption ensures that only the intended recipients can access the content of messages, preventing interception by third parties
  • The use of virtual private networks (VPNs) can help mask the location and identity of users, providing an additional layer of anonymity
• However, the use of these tools is not foolproof, and activists must remain vigilant about potential security breaches and the evolving tactics of adversaries
  • The development of new technologies, such as facial recognition and artificial intelligence, can pose new challenges to the privacy and security of activists

Case Studies: Successful Social Media Campaigns

• The #MeToo movement, which began in 2017, used social media to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault, particularly in the workplace
  • The hashtag, created by activist Tarana Burke, went viral following allegations against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, with millions of people sharing their own experiences of sexual misconduct
  • The movement led to a global reckoning, with high-profile individuals across industries being held accountable for their actions and systemic changes being implemented in many organizations
• The Black Lives Matter movement, which gained global momentum following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, used social media to organize protests, demand police reform, and challenge systemic racism
  • Activists used platforms like Twitter and Facebook to share information, coordinate actions, and mobilize supporters across the world
  • The movement led to widespread protests, policy changes, and a renewed focus on racial justice and equity in many countries
• The climate strike movement, inspired by Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, used social media to mobilize young people around the world to demand action on climate change
  • Thunberg's solo school strike for climate, which she documented on social media, inspired a global movement of youth-led climate strikes and protests
  • The movement has pressured governments and corporations to commit to more ambitious climate targets and has shifted the global conversation around the urgency of the climate crisis
• The #NiUnaMenos (Not One Less) movement, which began in Argentina in 2015, used social media to protest against gender-based violence and femicide
  • The movement, which spread to other Latin American countries, used hashtags and online campaigns to demand government action and cultural change
  • The movement has led to legal reforms, increased public awareness, and the creation of support networks for survivors of gender-based violence

Challenges and Criticisms

• Slacktivism: Some critics argue that social media activism can lead to superficial engagement with issues, with people participating in low-effort actions (e.g., liking or sharing posts) without contributing to meaningful change
  • The ease of online participation can create the illusion of making a difference, while diverting attention and resources away from more substantive forms of activism
• Misinformation and fake news: The spread of false or misleading information on social media can undermine the credibility and effectiveness of online activism
  • Activists may struggle to counter the spread of misinformation, particularly when it is amplified by influential figures or coordinated disinformation campaigns
  • The prevalence of fake news can lead to public confusion, skepticism, and disengagement with important issues
• Online echo chambers and polarization: The algorithms used by social media platforms can create filter bubbles, where users are exposed primarily to information and opinions that align with their existing beliefs
  • This can lead to increased polarization and the formation of online echo chambers, where alternative viewpoints are rarely encountered or engaged with
  • The lack of diverse perspectives can hinder the ability of online activism to build broad-based coalitions and promote understanding across different communities
• Corporate co-optation and commodification: The growing influence of social media activism has led some corporations to adopt the language and aesthetics of online movements for marketing purposes
  • This co-optation can dilute the message and impact of genuine activism, while allowing companies to profit from the appearance of social responsibility without making substantive changes to their practices
  • The commodification of activism can also lead to the prioritization of individual branding and self-promotion over collective goals and solidarity

Future Trends and Implications

• The increasing use of artificial intelligence and machine learning by social media platforms and activists alike
  • AI-powered tools can help activists analyze large datasets, identify patterns and insights, and optimize their campaigns for maximum impact
  • However, the use of AI by social media companies can also enable more sophisticated forms of surveillance, manipulation, and censorship
• The growing importance of visual and multimedia content in online activism
  • The rise of platforms like Instagram and TikTok has highlighted the power of visual storytelling and short-form video in capturing attention and spreading messages
  • Activists will need to adapt their strategies to effectively leverage these formats and platforms to reach new audiences and drive engagement
• The potential for decentralized and blockchain-based social media platforms to challenge the dominance of traditional tech giants
  • Decentralized platforms, built on blockchain technology, could offer greater privacy, security, and user control over data and content
  • The adoption of these alternative platforms could reshape the landscape of online activism and reduce the influence of corporate interests
• The need for greater digital literacy and security awareness among activists and the general public
  • As the tactics of adversaries evolve and the risks of online activism become more complex, activists will need to prioritize digital security and privacy as core components of their work
  • Promoting digital literacy and providing accessible tools and resources for secure communication and data protection will be essential for the long-term sustainability and effectiveness of social media activism
• The importance of building inclusive and intersectional movements that center the voices and experiences of marginalized communities
  • Online activism must grapple with the ways in which existing power imbalances and inequalities are reproduced and amplified in digital spaces
  • Prioritizing the leadership and perspectives of those most impacted by the issues being addressed, and creating safe and supportive spaces for dialogue and collaboration, will be critical for the future of social media activism