Twitter, Facebook, and Social Activism

[figment]

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell?currentPage=1

One thing that stood out to me in this article is that what makes activists committed is strong ties, and high risk activism is congruent with those strong ties. The article argues that social media creates weak ties, which are great for diffusion of information etc., but not for creating high-risk activism. I think perhaps that Gladwell makes the mistake of thinking that social media activism enthusiasts think that all activism must be handled digitally – I don't imagine this is the case, I think it's more of a supplement.

Still, Gladwell's conclusion gives me pause:

But [social media] is simply a form of organizing which favors the weak-tie connections that give us access to information over the strong-tie connections that help us persevere in the face of danger. It shifts our energies from organizations that promote strategic and disciplined activity and toward those which promote resilience and adaptability. It makes it easier for activists to express themselves, and harder for that expression to have any impact. The instruments of social media are well suited to making the existing social order more efficient. They are not a natural enemy of the status quo. If you are of the opinion that all the world needs is a little buffing around the edges, this should not trouble you. But if you think that there are still lunch counters out there that need integrating it ought to give you pause.

I'm not sure where I fall. I think that social media can be very helpful in sharing information and organizing. But I have to admit that all the Tweets in the world don't fire me up the way an in-person midnight bullshit session might. Does that make me old-fashioned, or does it highlight a truth about social media and how it can't take the place of in person communication?

Comments

[pants_of_doom]

It makes it easier for activists to express themselves, and harder for that expression to have any impact.

What I have to say about this is, I see a lot of people post articles on various social topics and then when I say "hey, folks who care about X, do something effective like mailing your reps or making a donation!" they act really surprised.