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]

HERO/ TERRORIST- sense the irony

“Hero to untold millions, public enemy #1 to the most powerful government in the world.” (ABC 2011) this is describing a man named Julian Assange. I like this Assange character, I may have only met him today (figuratively, of course) but he had me interested from the get-go, despite his creepy demeanor.

He is the leader of the organisation/ website Wikileaks, whose aim is to expose government scandals and share information to the public (Wikileaks 2010). He is described as a whistleblower, activist, terrorist and hacktivist but what about inspirational, courageous, hero or just plain crazy. Lets look at this more in depth:

• ·      A whistleblower: an informant who exposes wrongdoing within an organization in the hope of stopping it.
• ·      An Activist: advocating or engaged in activism
• ·      A Terrorist: a person who uses terrorism in the pursuit of political aims
• ·      A Hacktivist: the use of computers and computer networks as a means of protest to promote political ends.

This is how I see it; he goes about his work by exposing wrongdoing (whistle-blowing), acting out against government enterprises in hope of making a change (activist), and he does all of this through the use of computer and computer networks, as a means to protest (hacktivist/ terrorist). Yet is it strange that I still find myself in awe of him. I think, as the ‘little guy’, I cannot help but feel that this courageous man is doing his bit for community and ensuring as a public, we are AWARE!

Digital activism is at the heart of Wikileaks, Assange and his team utilize technology outlets to share information to widespread audiences and a fast rate. Pertinently speaking, Assange would be a threat to the government with or without social media platforms. There would be numerous networks or radio stations ready to PAY money for the information Assange holds. While one may speculate that Wikileaks is reducing government corruption through the activist website, who’s to say the government are not just becoming more careful where they ‘leave’ their information?

Although this was not the case after a recent government scandal; Wikileaks came into the spot light after the ‘whistle-blower’ organisation posted 391, 832 classified Iraq war documents on its website (Greenberg 2010). With these, came the video of the ‘collateral murder’, where you watch US soldiers gun down unarmed Iroquoian men and a truck holding two children (ABC 2011). This video caused great worry for government bodies and the public was demanding answers. This is Assange’s goal exactly; expose and bring power to the people.

If information such as this continues to be exposed due to this website and people continue to support Wikileaks, the government should be worried. Wikileaks relies on the power of the people; if it falls another company WILL begin. Forbes magazine states in relation to Wikileaks future,  “corruption institutes may come and go and may stop an individual, but they cannot stop us all” (Greenberg, 2010).

HERE, HERE!

ABC.net.au (2011) The Forgotten Man. [video online] Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20110214/leaks/default.htm [Accessed: 21 January 2013].

Greenberg, A. (2010) The Future of Wikileaks. Forbes, [online] 22 November. Available at: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/1122/focus-andy-greenberg-wikileaks-classified-social-remix.html [Accessed: 21 January 2013].

News.com.au (2012) Julian Assange. [image online] Available at: http://www.news.com.au/technology/julian-assange-fate-could-be-revealed-on-twitter/story-e6frfro0-1226263858599 [Accessed: 21 January 2013].

Wikileaks.org (2010) About. [online] Available at: http://wikileaks.org/About.html [Accessed: 23 Jan 2013].