#digitalcitizenship:activismand protest

[ttian8899-blog]

Digital citizenship: Activism and protest

It’s actual that acts of protests and advocacy can ignite wherever there are networked public's, when groups of humans connect and collect around frequent grievances and “find symbols beneath which to organise” (Sigal & Biddle 2015).  we know, digital science has enabled the formation of severs networked public's, in spite of bodily boundaries, and as such, has over the years, end up an increasingly more common tool for activists.(Sigal & Biddle 2015) suggests that whilst learning from previous movements has considered activists seek out simple and broadly handy technological know-how options to supplement extra analogue verbal exchange methods, they additionally point out that digital technology could really be a risk to protesters, and that it isn’t right to hinge the success of unique actions on the use of digital technology, rather than on the human memories at the back of the movements. True, digital technological know-how tailor-made for the functions of activism and protest are often Not used, in favour of extra mainstream structures like social media, and there Are issues that can arise from this. However, it’s additionally simple that overall, digital technology’s also benefited social or political movements. At least to a positive extent. 

Not long ago, instagram introduced the ability to introduce location and tag stories in exploration. I just sent a few copies because I wanted to try out new features. With this feature I can see what's going on around me and find stories that interest you. In addition, I can also see the story of people who use the same stickers. You can also search anywhere in the world and you will see the story circle at the top of the location page. Add a location tag or topic tag to your story that you may be included in a larger story. If you added your story, you'll see a line at the top of the story viewer list showing how many people saw it in a larger story. It's a simple, carefree, super-economic way to neatly blend into the common tapestries of my everyday life. Similarly, other people, whether full-time activists or not, have used these platforms to advocate their careers for many years. One of their "hijacking" and re positioning features is The Hashtag, a feature of social media that uses content tags to enable fast and efficient search and post links, as well as easier, faster response, or sharing. And redistribute text.

This is the example of Instagram introduced the ability to introduce location and tag stories in exploration. 

#NoBanNoWall Hashtag To Protest Trump’s Border Wall

source: Gani A 2017, (https://www.buzzfeed.com/aishagani/no-ban-no-wall-tweets-trump)

On Wednesday, President Trump ordered a wall be built on the US-Mexico border, just as news broke that he planned to enforce the "Muslim ban" he pledged on the campaign trail.  In response, tousands of people hit the streets on Wednesday in protest, with many chanting: “This is what America looks like."

People turned up at Washington Square Park in New York and chanted: "No ban, no wall, this is our New York." View image on TwitterView image on TwitterView image on Twitter

See Talal Ansari's other Tweets Twitter Ads info and privacy At the same time, people started tweeting #NoBanNoWall – a hashtag founded by former Obama White House staffer Zaki Barzinji and activist Imraan Siddiqi.

Some Democratic members of Congress backed the hashtag.

People of Mexican heritage tweeted their fear.

Actor Mark Ruffalo tweeted his support for vulnerable minority groups.

Police violence and the new era of hashtag activism

source: dehhan 2014, (https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/hashtag-activism-police-brutality-march-nyc/)

The protest was one of many sweeping across the U.S. to fight back against a police violence. But this isn’t your grandmother’s protest: The rising demonstrations come as members of the movement are actively using over 30 hashtags dedicated to making their voices heard.

There’s a divide on what “hashtag activism” really is—for critics, it’s a sign of laziness, a half-measure that is no replacement for traditional fundraising and campaigning, and only serves to help those tweeting and sharing feel better about themselves. But for those riding the wave of anti-police violence action, it’s become something far more important: a tool.

“Hashtag activism is key,” said protester Stephanie McFarlane, as she marched up an avenue along with the rest of the anti-police brutality protesters. “There’s the many hashtags with all the information, which is very helpful.”  

McFarlane called herself an active Twitter user and lauded the ways in which hashtags help lead to organic conversations online. “People can share their strong opinions and be a part of a humongous discussion,” she said.

When asked if hashtag activism can be considered actual activism, she didn’t hesitate: “I would call it activism, I would.”

IS IT “ONLY A HASHTAG”?

Well, Sigal & Biddle (2015) presents a view in which technology regularly overshadows the human testimonies and symbols behind activists’ causes. But regardless of its obvious shortcomings, I now posit that whilst that can also be the case in some instances - like the Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong, in which FireChat gained interest for how it was hijacked via activists because of its unique characteristics - in others, like in #IAmStillAlive, #MeToo, and different moves like #BlackLivesMatter, a frequent characteristic (Hashtagging) of common digital science (social media sites) has furnished activists with a device that does Not overshadow present symbols, however rather, affords activists the easy formation of new Symbols. Instead of overshadowing the stories, the Hashtags have turn out to be beacons and at once recognisable umbrella phrases and avenues, underneath which man or woman activists and participants of the actions converge and Share their stories. They can quickly interact with said motion and with every other, and thru which they can without difficulty make bigger their Voices, whether or not to raise awareness or disseminate their alternative views. It is clear, even in media coverage, that while it is acknowledged that these actions are happening on social media, it is treated almost in passing as just every other method, and focus is still placed on the people these motives champion (Zacharek, Dockterman & Edwards 2017) in a way that they had not been before. I assume this comes following now not only the development of digital technology, but the increasing digital literacy and dependency of the world’s population. And I can only see digital technological know-how continuing to evolve as a tool for activism in the future.