#onlineactivism

[phonemantra-blog]

The glitz and glamour of the Met Gala often overshadow the grim realities of the world outside its walls. However, this year, as the fashion elite graced the green and white carpet, the backdrop was marred by protests and a rising digital movement known as #Blockout2024. What sparked this movement, and why are celebrities finding themselves under scrutiny for their silence on the Gaza conflict? Amidst Silence on Gaza Conflict The Origins of #Blockout2024: As the Israel-Hamas conflict continued to escalate, the silence of some A-list celebrities drew criticism from online activists. Led by TikTok user @ladyfromtheoutside, the #Blockout2024 movement gained momentum, urging followers to hold celebrities accountable for their lack of action or vocal support for Palestine. Understanding the Movement: #Blockout2024 operates on a simple premise: if a celebrity fails to speak out against the devastation in Gaza, they should be blocked on social media platforms. This digital guillotine, as termed by its proponents, aims to reclaim the power of social influence and redirect attention toward those actively addressing humanitarian crises. The Role of Social Media: TikTok and Instagram became battlegrounds for the #Blockout2024 movement, with dedicated accounts listing celebrities deemed complicit in their silence. From Taylor Swift to Kim Kardashian, no A-lister was immune from scrutiny, leading to heated debates over their moral responsibility and the effectiveness of symbolic gestures. Celebrities in the Crosshairs: The Blockout List featured household names like Beyoncé and Selena Gomez, whose silence on the Gaza conflict drew ire from supporters of the movement. Additionally, attendees of the Met Gala faced criticism for their perceived tone-deafness, sparking discussions on the impact of celebrity activism. Navigating the Gray Areas: As the movement gained traction, questions arose about the criteria for inclusion on the Blockout List. Did wearing a pro-ceasefire button to the Oscars absolve artists like Billie Eilish of accountability? How should statements like "Free Palestine" from celebrities like Kim Kardashian be interpreted amidst conflicting sentiments? The Power of Consumer Influence: At its core, #Blockout2024 underscores the influence consumers wield in shaping celebrity discourse. By leveraging social media platforms to amplify their voices, activists seek to hold public figures accountable for their actions and compel meaningful engagement with pressing global issues.

[pinkpetalbee]

Navigating Hate Speech Online: A Unitarian Universalist Approach 🌈

In today's digital age, hate speech online has become a pervasive issue, impacting individuals and communities across the globe. As Unitarian Universalists, we are called to uphold the inherent worth and dignity of every person, even in the face of hateful rhetoric. Here are some tips on how to combat hate speech online while maintaining your mental and emotional well-being:

🚫 Do Not Engage: It can be tempting to respond to hate speech directly, but engaging with it often leads to further conflict and negativity. Instead, practice restraint and focus on constructive actions.

✋ Use the Block and Report Features: Social media platforms provide tools to help combat hate speech. Utilize the block and report features to prevent further exposure to harmful content and to notify the platform of violations.

🤝 Seek Support: Dealing with hate speech can be emotionally draining. Reach out to friends, family, or your Unitarian Universalist community for support. Talking about your feelings can help you process them and feel less alone.

💬 Promote Positivity: Counteract hate speech by sharing positive and uplifting content. Spread messages of love, acceptance, and understanding to create a more compassionate online environment.

🌟 Educate Yourself and Others: Take the time to educate yourself about the impact of hate speech and the importance of combating it. Share this knowledge with others to raise awareness and promote change.

🔍 Monitor Your Online Activity: Pay attention to how much time you spend online and how it affects your mental health. Take breaks when needed and prioritize activities that bring you joy and relaxation.

As Unitarian Universalists, we are committed to creating a world where all people are valued and respected. By taking proactive steps to combat hate speech online, we can help build a more inclusive and compassionate online community. Together, we can make a difference.

[wnewsguru]

नई संसद भवन का सोशल मीडिया पर पो���्ट करके सख्त विरोध

कांग्रेस के वरिष्ठ नेता जयराम रमेश ने सोशल मीडिया पर एक लंबा पोस्ट लिखकर संसद की नई इमारत की आलोचना की है। जयराम रमेश ने लिखा कि पूरे जोर-शोर से संसद की नई इमारत लॉन्च की गई थी। यह असल में पीएम मोदी के उद्देश्यों को पूरा करती है। इसे मोदी मल्टीप्लेक्स या मोदी मैरियट … Read more

[loudmouthbrowngirl]

Xpel Incels

[lavieestbellebelle]

Political Engagement, Platform Publics, ‘Clicktavism’ & Hashtag Activism (week 9)

A core aspect of digital citizenship is political engagement, such as voting, as well as “engagement outside the election process” (Stickels 2020), including activism and campaigning. According to Luke Stickels, a campaigner, communication consultant and community organiser, a campaign can be defined as a “project of linked actions organised towards achieving a particular goal”, whether this be political, social, business or marketing (Stickels 2020). According to The Change Agency, a theory of change can “help guide campaigners, their teams and communities” (Whelan 2020). The Change Agency propose a three part format to train campaigners to clarify their theory of change and ensure it will have their desired impact on society. This strategy includes – “if” (we implement these tactics and activities), “then” (this will create change or lead to a political outcome), and “because” (some persuasive causal logic, such as why).

Due to the enormous reach afforded by social media platforms, campaigns can quickly develop online, particularly through hashtags such as #WomensMarch, #BlackLivesMatter, #BringBackOurGirls and #HeForShe. Amongst many others, these campaigns originated from hashtag activism. Brooke Foucault Welles, assistant professor of online activism, explains her perspective on hashtag activism, as where people “use hashtags in order to denote things or issues of political or personal meaning in order to gain traction in the mainstream” (SAGE publications 2019). Continuing on, Welles notes that “hashtag publics capture mainstream news attention”, which is perhaps what makes them so powerful (SAGE publications 2019). Therefore, these aforementioned examples of hashtag activism have been developed to bring people together on a global scale through the power and reach of social media networks. It’s also worth noting that the majority of these campaigns have also been promoted and backed by well-known celebrities and spokespeople in this field, including Emma Watson and Michelle Obama, which helps the campaign’s messages reach more people.

Another key aspect of digital communities relating to political engagement and activism are platform publics, which are facilitated through social media channels, including Tumblr, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For example, writer and media expert, Luke Stickels analyses the platform publics formed on Twitter in this week’s lecture, describing the platform as a place with users create strong and defined identities, ‘hashtag battlefronts’, and accessible archives of their thoughts and opinions on various topics (Stickels 2020). Another important point Brooke Foucault Welles raised is the idea of networked counterpublics, which Welles believes “essentially fill a gap in our understanding of how people communication online (SAGE publications 2019). Therefore, the term counterpublics has been coined to describe the way that people considered on the margins of society, who aren’t necessarily included in mainstream conversations, particularly in the news and other media, can come together and form their own online communities (SAGE publications 2019). Ultimately, Welles explains, these online interactivity is intended to advance their counterpublics by “pushing them into these mainstream publics” in order to have their voices and stories heard by a wider audience.

In a similar vein to platform publics and hashtag activism, ‘clicktavism’ is another term used to describe the rise of political engagement, especially online activism. However, this terminology has been met with mixed opinions from media scholars and activists. For instance, in an interview with The Guardian, Larissa Ocampo, online community manager at ‘One Girl’ and specialist in the not-for-profit space, describes ‘clicktavism’ as a step towards activism, arguing in favour of this new movement. Ocampo explains that “the ease and convenience of online actions (clicks, likes, tweets and shares)” is an innovative and game-changing way of introducing more people to activism in ways that aren’t intimidating and are accessible for the majority of people (Banning-Lover 2014). Whereas, Micah White, the original creator of the Occupy Wall Street protests, believes ‘clicktavism’ is “fatally flawed”, reducing this new wave of activism to “meme wars” and “propagat[ing] a false theory of social change” (Banning-Lover 2014).

Therefore, it is clear that terminology relating to online activism has created polarizing perspectives on the validity and effectiveness of the increasing popularity of digital activism. However, despite these varied opinions as to the benefits and consequences of online activism, digital communities formed on these social media platforms are evidently helping pave the wave for change in society. This can be in the form of incremental or huge ways, including raising awareness, helping reduce stigma around particular issues or raising significant funds for their associated charities.

Image Credit: ‘For All Womankind’ Illustration Poster by Deva Pardue 2016.

References

Alvarez, N, Lauzon, C & Zaiontz, K 2019, ‘On sustainable tools for precarious times: An introduction’, in N Alvarez, C, Lauzon & K, Zaiontz (eds), Sustainable tools for precarious times, Palgrave Macmillian, Switzerland, pp. 1-25.

Banning-Lover, R 2014, ‘How to campaign online: 15 dos and don’ts’, The Guardian, 15 July, viewed 14 May 2020, <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jul/15/16-dos-and-donts-of-online-campaigning-clicktivism-digital-activism-kony>.

Foucault Welles, B 2019, Researching online activism using social network analysis, SAGE Publications Ltd, London, viewed 14 May 2020, <https://methods-sagepub-com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/video/researching-online-activism-using-social-network-analysis>.

Hitchings-Hales, J & Calderwood, I 2017, ‘8 massive moments hashtag activism really, really worked’, Global Citizen, 23 August, viewed 16 May 2020, <https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/hashtag-activism-hashtag10-twitter-trends-dresslik/>.

One Girl 2020, Why girls?, One Girl, viewed 15 May 2020, <https://www.onegirl.org.au/our-impact/why-girls>.

Stickels, L 2020, ‘Week 9. Digital activism and campaigning’, MDA20009 Digital communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 13 May, viewed 13 May 2020.

Whelan, J 2020, ‘Theories of change’, The Change Agency, 21 April, viewed 15 May 2020, <http://www.thechangeagency.org/theories-of-change/>.

White, M, Alvarez, N & Zaiontz, K 2019, ‘Protest after Occupy: Rethinking the repertoires of left activism’, in N Alvarez, C, Lauzon & K, Zaiontz (eds), Sustainable tools for precarious times, Palgrave Macmillian, Switzerland, pp. 27-40.

[sarahsdigitalcommunity]

This is a very interesting article about ‘online activism’ and how it is not as simple or easy as is often suggested! 

[jakirshbaum]

The teams at @nonviolenceny have put together a new commercial for the New York Graduate Plan Online. **Check out the video in the bio** #online #classes #professional #unitednations @un @unitar_peace ================== #repost @nonviolenceny Check out this video featuring members of our own international community and get more information on the New York Graduate Plan Online. Be sure to visit our website and apply today! #youthactivism #onlineactivism #stayhomestaysafe #covid19 #gradplan (at United Nations) https://www.instagram.com/p/CDXA94HndUC/?igshid=beb925x1744f

[miezemia]

‼️❌ ACT NOW ‼️❌ Alarmstufe ROT - Die Flüchtlingslager müssen JETZT evakuiert werden. ⁣ ⁣ Aktuell ist es schwierig, auf die Straße zu gehen und gemeinsam zu demonstrieren, aber auf diesem Wege können wir online ein Zeichen für mehr Menschlichkeit setzen. Wie?⁣ ⁣ 👉Unterschreibt die Petition #LeaveNoOneBehind auf change.org 📝 ⁣ ⁣ Und setzt mit @textiler_ungehorsam ein Zeichen, indem ihr ein Bild von euch mit roter Maske teilt. ⁣ ⁣ Maske auf ja - Maul halten nein 😷✅🤐❌ @seebrueckeoffiziell ⁣ #humanitätjetzt #humanrights #humanity #textilerungehorsam #europemustact #euope #eu #refugees #seebrücke #redmasc #rotemaske #refugeeswelcome #stayathomeDemo #fashionactivism #wirhabenPlatz #onlineactivism #leavenoonebehind #LeaveNoOneBehind2020 #awareness #corona #covid19 #maskedrauf (hier: Hamburg, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_vNGSeH4gh/?igshid=gx6jibq2g9ea

[cacarlesi]

Does Online Activism Help the Activists or the Government?

In his book The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom and in his article “The brave new world of slacktivism”, Evgeny Morozov, a young scholar from Belarus, explores the dangers of performing activism online. “Slacktivism” is the name given to the type of activism performed online which only makes people feel-good, but it is not really influential to encourage change in the political or social sphere. The yellow vests movement, among many others, makes use of the internet to do activism. Could its activism be considered “slacktivism”? 

The yellow vests movement was born in France at the end of 2018 to fight the rise in fuel prices. Yellow vests activists are mostly known for their street demonstrations, even if the movement actually started online. On October 18, Jacline Mouraud, a once unknown French citizen, now considered one of the founders of the movement, shared a video on Facebook to denounce the decisions of President Macron (A). 

(A) screenshot of Jacline Mourad’s video. Translation: Where is France Going? Enough is happening and staying silent means being a witness. Give your note to the president!

During the same month, a petition on change.org was created to protest the rise of fuel prices. The video got more than 6 million views, while the petition got more than a million signatures (B). 

(B) screenshot of the petition. Translation: For lower prices of fuel!

Shortly after the two online protests, a Facebook group was created to organize the first public demonstration (C).

(C) screenshot of the Facebook group. Translation: Yellow Vests, November 17

Because the online protests performed by the yellow vests activists have quite successfully gathered a large amount of supporters, they should not completely be labeled as “slacktivist” actions. On one end, they had a social and political impact since they started the street protests. On the other hand, even if more than a million of people signed the petition, only 290.000 were the activists participating to the first street protest on November 17, 2018. The fact that only a portion of the people who signed the petition, shared the video, or joined the Facebook group actually attended the demonstration suggests that the majority of the internet users were only doing that to feel better about themselves. When it was actually time for them to put their body at risk on the ground, they preferred to remain at home. Therefore, the online protests performed by the yellow vests supporters can be considered “slacktivism”, but only in part.

Even if the use of online platforms by the yellow vests activists effectively gathered a lot of people on the streets and helped them communicate, online platforms are also exposed by cybersurveillance. In his book, Morozov explores the many ways in which governments have and still are exploiting the web to learn more about their citizens. Before the advent of social media, countries had to use domestic intelligence in order to gather such informations. After the spread of online platforms, citizens have been providing voluntarily personal informations in their profiles. Because governments have been able to access these informations, they have been able to monitor their citizens. In situations of unrest like the yellow vests protests, their movements can be easily tracked and, eventually, blocked. For instance, the French government has been able to plan when and where to locate their police just by using the details that the protesters have been giving via Facebook. Overall, activists should think twice when providing their informations online. How much will they be of help to their fight and how much will they be of harm?

[digitalspheres-blog]

3. activism in the digital world

The online world has certainly changed the game for activists - whether it's for the better or worse is up to you.

The use of social media has made spreading a message and getting a voice heard much easier for activist organisations, especially in a global sense. With the ability to create petitions, events and articles and then share them on social media platforms to millions across the globe, activists are now able to create more momentum and gain more supporters than ever before. The flip side to this is the rise of ‘clicktvisim’ - the act of supporting a cause from a simple click of the mouse. Clicktivism has led to people signing an online petition, boosting their ‘good person’ status as they feel they've helped create change, but never actually going out to actively contribute.

source: https://tenor.com/view/im-trying-to-be-good-trying-good-better-person-kristen-bell-gif-11002922

#BlackLivesMatter is said to have been one of the first notable examples of online activism after being created in 2013, following the release of George Zimmerman - an American man who fatally shot 17-year-old African-American Trayvon Martin. The hashtag was created by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors and Opal Tometi to fight against the unjust violence experienced by the “Black communities by the state and vigilantes” as stated on their website. The hashtag gained global momentum quickly which has resulted in almost 3,000 protests occurring since 2014 and in 2018 it was estimated by Pew Research Center that #BlackLivesMatter featured in over 17,000 tweets per day. Without this support that has stemmed from their social media presence, the movement may not have been able to (or at least it would’ve taken a lot more time and effort) make the political changes they have - the charging of police officers for their crimes, the banning of police departments from obtaining military equipment, and the increased wear of body cameras by the police, enabling the correct accountability to be held in such instances. 

source: https://giphy.com/gifs/black-lives-matter-7iL3tke98yuA

Other successful online activism campaigns include #MeToo, #HeForShe, the #ALSIceBucketChallenge and #MarchForOurLives. Whilst all of these have used social media to their advantage and fought for their courses both on and offline, I think it is important to note the vital role social media played for #MarchForOurLives. This hashtag was created to fight for tighter gun laws in the United States by student survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2018. The hashtag allowed these students to reach an audience so large that more than 450 marches took place across the US on the weekend of March 24-25 2018. The entire event was organised online and picked up an enormous amount of press and recognition from high profile celebrities and influencers, resulting in the march becoming the largest youth-led protest since the Vietnam War era.

These examples all rely on, or stem from, the use of the hashtag that I’ve discussed before as an affordance that has given a whole new meaning to Twitter and made social media all the more connected, across platforms. Of course, online activism comes in all different forms just as anything does. Adbsuters does an incredible job at breaking down the advertising we constantly are exposed to and challenging consumerism. They protest serious topics in a way that manages to be taken seriously despite its light-hearted nature, often using culture jamming. Culture jamming focuses on interrupting advertisements and revealing the underlying ideologies, exposing the propaganda that often lurks below. 

source: https://www.adbusters.org/spoof-ads

I do personally believe that social media has changed activism for the better and that those who simply click ‘sign petition’ but never make effort to act on it are still doing more than they once would've without the online petition - when was the last time you signed a hard copy petition someone shoved in your face outside of the supermarket? Also, whilst they might not act on it, there are still plenty of eager and passionate activists out there fighting for their cause and still plenty of organisations out there finding new recruits and volunteers - most of whom have found about the other online.

[punkecodavid]

Having worked before for a college newspaper I believe that this holds truth. There's a feeling of fear and hopelessness along people that "the end of the world" is near, but I counter that with the idea of empathy and hope for the future... #historyrepeatsitself #leftwingnews #rightwingnews #goodinformation #badinformation #freedomfromfear #freethinker #freedomlibertyandjusticeforall #empowerment #empathy #sympathy #compassion #biasednews #journalism #thepoordeservesbetter #onlineactivism #activist #vivelarepublique https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs9h8M9h_0V/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=lbt3ijg4j64q

[strangerinchitown]

#PSA This is the sign I designed exclusively for Dyke March and Pride Parade. I'll use it for other marches in the future... Originally it was supposed to say "I roll with intersectionality" but I shortened it to "I roll intersectional" A ton of ppl at both events loved my sign. ^^ The way I believe in multiculturalism, I believe the same with intersectionality. For those who dont know what it means to be an intersectional feminist? It means that you include everyone. You understand that everyone in the community has a struggle with oppression. The struggle is real, and noone's oppression is better than the other's oppression. This isn't a COMPETITION! At the end of the day we are all connected. And we should be united in this fight! Lastly, noone should be excluded from the community! =( #intersectionalfeminism #intersectionality #weareconnected #unitedwestand #inclusion #lovewins #unity #community #oppressionisconnected #fightforyourrights #standtogether #june #juneispridemonth #pride #lgbtq #blm #dykemarch #prideparade #activism #onlineactivism #safespace #chicago #princessbopeep #kikipierre #gayrights (at Southwest Side, Chicago, Illinois)

[alfaroni]

Dari Facebook Dengan Cinta

Suatu hari, saya membaca respons media sosial yang belum sesuai dengan peristiwa terkini terkait dengan ketidakadilan rasial. Saya membaca dengan tenang dan kembali ke penelitian yang sedang berlangsung tentang topik-topik rasisme, diskriminasi, supremasi dan reformasi penjara, mengkuratori apa yang saya pikir merupakan informasi praktis dan membagikannya. Saya setuju bahwa saya bisa melakukannya lebih cepat. Namun, ketika saya memposting, saya berpikir: Jika tanggapanmu terhadap hak istimewa dan rasisme terbatas pada berbagi pos media sosial, atau pos-pos itu mendahuluimu melanggengkan perilaku rasisme dikeluargamu, kelompok sosialmu, komunitas kepercayaanmu, tempat kerjamu dan dirimu sendiri, maka aktivismemu hanyalah performatif. Jika responsmu terhadap hak istimewa dan rasisme terbatas pada berbagi pos media sosial, maka aktivismemu akan performatif. Aktivis Online Apa yang dilakukan beberapa "aktivis online" untuk membantu mengamankan masyarakat yang lebih adil, di luar berbagi konten? Banyak yang mengambil lencana sekutu mereka yang diberikan oleh kekuatan media sosial dan membersihkannya, tidak ada tindakan lain yang perlu diambil. Musim depan, posting media sosial mereka akan membahas masalah kontemporer baru. Media sosial adalah alat, satu dari banyak. Ini merupakan pelengkap dari pekerjaan sehari-hari yang nyata. Apakah Read the full article

[human-imdb]

Blog Post #9

Compare the radicalization of Zeke Spier to that of mass-murderer Dylann Roof.

Both Zeke Spier and Dylann Roof had pre-conceived beliefs which led them down the rabbit hole of the internet that would result in their notoriety. Spier wasn’t very politically active growing up, but took intrigue in major events that he felt were controversial and indicative of social injustices, such as the toppling of the El Salvador socialist regime with a dictatorship which was facilitated by the United States. Roof was a reclusive high school student who rarely engaged with the community around him yet felt very passionately about the outcomes of police brutality cases where white officers killed young unarmed black men. For both men, the intrigue posed by current events would lead them to online communities that would be having conversations about not only what occurred, but also what more could be done to resolve the systemic issues that resulted in the incidents themselves. Spier engaged with like-minded classmates on political issues which led to his integration with listservs and larger networks of action-oriented movements. Dylann would also seek discourse concerning these issues, but the search algorithms for Google would lead him towards sites that seemingly confirmed his uninformed opinions on race and police brutality. Zeke Spier and Dylann Roof came onto the internet with opinions that were affirmed by the circles they would choose to follow and ended with them both radicalized for their respective causes.

In what way does Zeke Spier’s radicalization differ from the stories of other people radicalized by online spaces?

What sets Zeke Spier apart from a number of stories that start with men being radicalized by communities formed online is that his radicalization was galvanized through the strength of the evidence presented to him. Spier went out of his way to corroborate any findings he encountered with several other reputable sources reporting the same information. Zeke was also not opposed to hearing arguments from views that countered his own. While his radicalization is ostensibly comparable to stories such as Dylann Roof, Zeke Spier remains an empathetic individual with the capacity to concede, adapt, and evolve; Dylann Roof was radicalized and pledged blind loyalty to his cause, intent on holding steadfast in the face of insurmountable evidence to the contrary.

What were some of the first steps taken to capitalize on the surge of black-user traffic on the World Wide Web?

Internet entrepreneurs sought to capitalize on the growing number of blacks who joined the internet starting in 1995. A great deal of condescension was observed in the public’s response to black communities beginning to integrate themselves into the world wide web; headlines of news outlets would sensationalize community centers adding computers to recreation rooms and black businesses setting up websites as revolutionary accomplishments, as though people were shocked to discover black people were competent enough to use a desktop. Soon enough, websites were created with the specific purpose of catering to this underserved demographic through content that was assumed to be of interest to them. These ventures were, in hindsight, more offensive than it’s assumed the creators meant for it to be, but websites would be marketed mostly towards black people that would only discuss aspects of black culture. From this, it’s not only implied that black people would presumably only care to discuss black-centric culture, but that other racial groups aren’t also allowed to take interest in black culture.

Which for of online activism is more effective: awareness/advocacy, organization/mobilization, or action/reaction?

Action/reaction will technically have the biggest impact, in terms of concrete results, as compared to the more symbolic and policy-minded approaches of organization/mobilization and awareness/advocacy, but the aggressive nature of action/reaction activism leaves it open to more public ridicule than the calculated public discourse that is involved in the other forms. Awareness and advocacy focus on changing the hearts and minds of people to affect change on a subtler, more nuanced level. Organization and mobilization are effective methods of collecting like-minded individuals for larger demonstrations that exemplify the magnitude of a cause, but does less to change people’s minds than awareness/advocacy.

[lavieestbellebelle]

The Intersection Between The Slow Fashion Movement & Digital Citizenship (week 7)

When referring to the online media landscape, digital citizenship encompasses a range of user behaviours, ranging from proactive and positive elements to more negative behaviour. In relation to the slow fashion movement, digital citizenship includes engaging respectfully with others as a good corporate citizen, and the responsibility of content creators to produce meaningful and entertaining content, whilst considering the potential impacts their habits and influence may have on others and the environment.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development defines sustainable fashion as “goods and services that respond to basic needs and bring a better quality of life, while minimising the use of natural resources, toxic materials, emissions of waste and pollutants over the life-cycle” (IISD 2015). This means that slow fashion is focused on promoting more eco-friendly and conscious shopping habits to reduce our impact on the planet. For instance, buying second hand or ‘thrifting’ and supporting fashion labels that are transparent about their ethical supply chains, using natural, recycled or up-cycled materials and supporting local designers and artists when developing and producing their clothing collections. Although the slow fashion movement has become more well known since it has reached #trending status on social media, this isn’t an entirely new movement, and can be traced back to the counter culture of the 1960s and anti-fur campaigns during the 1990s and early 2000s (Lai et al 2017, p. 81).

For the purpose of this analysis, I will refer to activism in the 21st century as the ‘second wave’ of the slow fashion movement. The collapse of the Rana Plaza, an eight-story building tragically killing 1,138 garment workers and in excess of 2,000 fatal injuries, in Dhaka in 2014 was a pivotal moment in the fashion industry (Parven 2014). This tragic incident emphasised the suffering of employees in the conventional textile industry, and raises the point that “compassion should play a significant role in sustainable fashion consumption” (Geiger & Keller 2017, p. 1124). Therefore, this was arguably one of the greatest public outcries for more transparency within fashion supply chains for security and ethical trading practices. Similarly, the release of ‘The True Cost’ documentary, directed by filmmaker Andrew Morgan in 2015 was another influential moment in the slow fashion movement. This shocking exposé of the dirty secrets of the global fashion industry highlights the true human cost of the fast-fashion retailers, and ultimately poses the question, who really pays the price for our clothing? This creates a fascinating juxtaposition between the extreme poverty and poor working conditions of the employees working for these big brands, in comparison to the glamorous models and advertising campaigns, which encourage wealthy consumers to invest in their luxury clothes. Interestingly, many activists and influencers in the slow fashion movement have described this groundbreaking documentary as a pivotal and significant catalyst towards their journey towards more ethical and conscious consumerism and overall approach to fashion.

Social media arguably has both positive and negative impacts on consumerism and the slow fashion movement. The most prominent damaging example are the extremely popular clothing ‘haul’ videos created by YouTubers and influencers, which promote regular shopping trips and materialism to their online audience. However, aside from the clear negative aspects, social media platforms, particularly YouTube and Instagram, have offered both consumers and producers of fashion a highly effective platform and exciting digital space to ‘spread the word’. This has ultimately fostered the development of digital communities that are passionate about and interested in the slow fashion movement, ethical labels and conscious consumerism. Some famous slow fashion activists and content creators include the well-known Tiffany Ferguson, Kirsten Leo, Venetia La Manna, and some of my personal favourites, Australian-based Hannah Heading, Clare Press and Unmaterial Girl. Other positive acts of digital citizenship encouraged by digital communities include the popular ‘capsule wardrobe’ movement, the ‘10x10 challenge’, originally created by style bloggers, Lee of Style Bee and Caroline of Un-Fancy; and the #createorrenew and #capsuleconversation hashtag publics created by Danice M Tay, a Toronto-based slow fashion and sustainable living blogger.

Therefore, it is clear that there is a powerful connection between the slow fashion movement and digital citizenship, which is highlighted through the influence of slow fashion online activists and the rise of digital communities within the eco-fashion space.

Illustration by Camila Gadotti, a Lisbon-based artist.

References

Geiger, S & Keller, J 2017, ‘Shopping for clothes and sensitivity to the suffering of others: the role of compassion and values in sustainable fashion consumption’, Environment and Behaviour, vol. 50, no. 10, pp. 1119-1144.

Henninger, C, Ryding, D, Alevizou, P & Goworek, H 2017, ‘Introduction to sustainability in fashion’, in Sustainability in fashion a cradle to upcycle approach, Palgrave, Manchester, pp. 1-10.

International Institute for Sustainable Development 2015, Definitions & concepts, IISD, viewed 1 May 2020 <http://www.iisd.org/susprod/principles .htm>.

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[mediasocietyinnovationworld-blog]

ONLINE MEDIA ACTIVISM #BlackLivesMatter

Online media activism is the power which ordinary civilians assume on new digital media forms so as to create a community which is of an ideal type (Waltz, 2005). The concept of public sphere is closely connected to the idea that every ordinary civilian is entitled to free participation in political, social, economic and cultural discussions within a democratic nation. Public connotes or suggests that active engagement of common people within a nation-state should be encouraged at all times because this will enhance democracy as participation will not be limited to the elites who take decisions on behalf of everyone. Public engagement is underlain by the ideology of access to information and resource for all (Papacharissi, 2002: 10). The internet is acknowledged as a tool or weapon of enhancing engagement in politics, this has been linked to the introduction of new media technology. It is believed that new media has the ability to strengthen discussions which circulate online to become practised on the actual ground. Social media has played a vital part even in third world countries through promoting political engagement to marginalised groups. Unlike traditional media forms such as television online media particularly twitter provides place where thorough participation can be held without fear of attack. Twitter gives a chance to people who may not have participated in political talk (Bosch, 2016: 222-226).

BlackLivesMatter began as a counteraction against anti-black racist ideologies and discourses. At the very infancy #BlackLivesMatter was concerned with the death of a young black male who has been allegedly murdered by a white person. The BLM activists have argued that this movement is not just about killings but encompasses every factor which contributes to black discrimination. #BlackLivesMatter is a phenomenon which emanated from virtual or online spaces but later took to the ground. #BlackLivesMatter was covered by mass media when a huge number of African-Americans mobilised to fight against being mistreated just because of their melanin or pigmentation (Garza, 2014: 23-25).  Black Lives Matter has went on to include sexual orientation and gender as it also counteracts the norms of perceived normal sexual behaviour; it speaks for dyke and transgender rights (Rickford, 2016: 39-40).

Online spaces have in a way given power to engage in political discussions without having a number of stumbling blocks as people feel much safe on social media they tend to articulate what might otherwise not have been articulated in physical public spaces. It is clear that the internet also works on the idea of imagination to enhance solidarity because it has brought most of the people who have never had any personal interactions together as they share a common interest. #BlackLivesMatter became widely adopted by black people all over the world as we know that they are still on the outskirts of the economy (class), dignity (affiliated with race), and other political factors. In South Africa to the concept of BlackLivesMatter has been adopted to accompany other hashtags which speak to issues rooted in this country. #BlackLivesMatter is aimed at bringing back the dignity of brown and black people which was taken away in the colonial era, this is the unfortunate part about race because it cannot be abandoned without fixing the injustices that still persist to this day. The liquidity of information on social media has made black people aware of the fact that they are facing the very same problems which appear in different contexts. Social media has the ability to shape our daily lives and this relates to how we handle situations we encounter in the future. The BLM movement has forged solidarity amongst black people because they feel they are the most disadvantaged race, this shows how solidarity can simultaneously fight prejudice and reify existing social constructions. Through solidarity #BlackLivesMatter reinforces the idea of race which is what seems to be a curse and a stumbling block to progress of the human species. Social media then is an artefact which determines the future in conformance or correspondence to how it is utilised. Twitter can be termed a mini-public sphere because it does allow for a space to discuss political and socio-economic issues, however, it is limited to those who have the virtue of possessing smartphones. Black Lives Matter has opened a space for discussing the issues of the criminalisation of a black body which originate from the ideologies of the past, so we can therefore declare that such a concept is Janus-faced as it utilises the past to address present issues to promote a better future for all.  The idea of stimulating a better future for the human species is evinced in the fight for freedom to sexuality as we are all aware that people with fluid sexuality or who engage in sexualities which are perceived to be not innate are not unique to blacks.  Black Lives Matter is similar to our local protest #FeesMustFall which stated as a campaign against fee increment at universities but ended up including things such as outsourcing, female rights, and other issues.  

New media technologies have advocated for participation to issues concerning race worldwide, this means people are no longer limited to just books for reference as they can simply logon to twitter or Facebook to engage in a political debate (Carney, 2016: 184).The above sentence is evidence that social media has allowed ordinary people an opportunity to create and disseminate information from their own perspectives without any form of filtering. Information is distributed in first-hand information on new digital media forms as there is no editor or any journalist to filter certain facts. There is a presence of transparency in the injustices which take place in different geographical locations around the world because of social media, this is what promotes solidarity because people relate their own lives to those they feel are threatened. During the #BlackLivesMatter movement people could sign up for updates about what was going to take place, and it used even other platforms such as Instagram and Tumblr. Black Lives Matter has become a tool through which to fix flaws of the human race by showing sameness amongst people which then should guarantee freedom for all.  

BIBLIOGRAPHY  

Bosch, T., 2017. Twitter activism and youth in South Africa: The case of# RhodesMustFall. Information, Communication & Society, 20(2), 221-232.

Carney, N., 2016. All lives matter, but so does race: Black lives matter and the evolving role of social media. Humanity & Society, 40(2), 180-199.

Garza, A., 2014. A herstory of the# BlackLivesMatter movement. Are all the women still white, 23-28.

Papacharissi, Z., 2002. The virtual sphere: The internet as a public sphere. New media & society, 4(1), 9-27.

Rickford, R., 2016, January. Black lives matter: Toward a modern practice of mass struggle. In New Labor Forum (Vol. 25, No. 1, 34-42). Sage CA: Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications.

Waltz, M., 2005. Alternative and activist media. Edinburgh University Press.