Digital Hype

Digital activism is defined as “The practice of using digital technology to increase the effectiveness of a social or political change campaign” (Gago, 2010). I don’t like how they use the word ‘effectiveness’, it’s a positive connotation, and I personally don’t see the beauty of digital activism. I share a pertinent view, with or without technology people will amalgamate and protest, digital activism just allows for a quicker more universal approach. Although my argument lies; with all the protesting and petitions, is significant change made? Or is it just an outlet for people to band together and whine?

An example of this was when presenter David Kosh from channel 7, made a comment that woman should be more discreet when they breastfeed. This caused an uproar from mothers online, and a petition was sent that asked women to protest with their children outside the channel 7 in Martin Place. 800 women signed this petition saying they would attend, only 150 showed up on the day (Carter, 2013). This raises the debate, is digital activism just a hype of empty promises? and how far are people actually willing to go to stand up and make a change. It is easy for a person to be aggressive behind their keyboard and when they are able to stay anonymous. Although when it comes to crunch time will anyone bother leaving the comfort of his or her home to fight for a cause?

This idea of digital hype alludes to KONY 2012, a campaign to fight for Ugandan children against a war criminal, Joseph Kony. Organized group ‘Invisible Children’ began an online video that showed the suffering of the children, and highlighted how everyone could make a difference. Social media outlets were utilized to illustrate the problems for the children and make Kony ‘famous’. The organisation saw 3.7 million people pledge their support for efforts to arrest Joseph Kony (invisiblechildren.com, 2012). This digital activism effort is the paramount example of Internet hype, it reached a global status, and for a few weeks the topic was discussed worldwide. Critics then began sledging the organisation stating they were money hungry, and the activist backlash began. KONY 2012 was short lived and people lost interest. A year on, he was never caught but the organisation promises to continue to push governments to find and arrest Kony (Invisiblechildreninc, 2012).

For anyone who STILL cares here is a video of KONY 2012 a year on. Only 41 000 people have viewed this video, following the initial video that saw 96,500,684 views. Amazing how hype can die so dramatically (Invisiblechildrensinc, 2012)

While I have been known to like a cause on Facebook, and follow a petition online, I have never had any intention of actually doing anything to help. It is easy to click a button or remark on an event, but if asked to leave my computer and join people in protest… No thanks; I’ve got a life to live and things to be done. I feel terrible saying this, because there are people out there that are struggling, but it’s the god honest truth. Unless it bothers me directly, I would not take a stand. Digital activism is easy, physical protest and confrontation is much harder. I’ll stick to the keyboard!

References:

Carter, L. (2013) TV host Koch targeted in breastfeeding protest. ABC news, [online] 22 January. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-21/tv-host-targeted-in-breastfeeding-protest/4473302 [Accessed: 15 February 2013].

Gago, B. (2010) Digital activism glossary - Notes on digital activism. [online] Available at: http://www.digitalactivist.net/articles/digital-activism-glossary/ [Accessed: 22 Jan 2013].

Invisiblechildreninc (2012) Invisible Children - YEAR IN REVIEW: 2012 - What it will take to stop Kony. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7xjU87hfzA [Accessed: 15 February 2013].

Invisiblechildren.com (2012) From the director of KONY 2012 comes Invisible Children's new film MOVE.. [online] Available at: http://invisiblechildren.com/kony/ [Accessed: 15 Feb 2013].

Invisiblechildreninc (2012) KONY 2012. [video online] Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc [Accessed: 15 February 2013]