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Summary Of The Logic Of Connective Action

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Because the use of technology has increased in frequency in recent years across all spheres of daily life, the integration of digital technologies within protest spaces is unsurprising. Protest spaces have become more networked-oriented as a result of these changes, shifting from more traditional models of collective action. Lance Bennett and Alexandra Segerberg discuss the changing protest ecology in The Logic of Connective Action: Digital Media and the Personalization of Contentious Politics, examining shifts in political action networks and the changing dynamics of protest spaces in context with technology. As such, their analysis of political action networks provides an understanding of the protest space that includes recognition of technology’s …show more content…

Because personal action frames give people the ability to clarify their connection to a social or political issue instead of forcing them to take in and regurgitate action frames that are disseminated by larger organizations, individuals are able to participate and contribute within connective action networks that allow for the dispersal of content and personal action frames that are not tied to specific identities. This sharing of content is enabled by digital networking mechanisms, which also give people multiple ways to enter spaces for political action and provide them with the ability to determine the extent of their engagement and involvement. As such, technology enables personalized political action and facilitates involvement in connective action networks that carry out political …show more content…

It is important to note that both varieties of connective action networks can be utilized to achieve action that is purposeful, especially if the circumstances allow these networks to carry out technologically networked action that can catalyze public action, improve the organization of action networks, and affect policy decisions. The power dynamics involved in action networks give context for the varying capabilities of connective networks that have different organizational structures; as such, networks that are controlled by organizations that centralize networking processes have power dynamics that differ from those of networks that decentralize networking processes and prominently incorporate numerous networked individuals and technologies. Within organizationally enabled networks, power generally emerges as a result of connections between organizations that coordinate action while also facilitating personalized sharing and participation through digital networking mechanisms. However, power in crowd-enabled networks can be found in the connections of numerous networks, which occurs via the use of commercial websites, special-interest platforms, text message and email exchanges, and other activity

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Cutterham states that on campus, “social media can…[link] together voices that are otherwise marginalized and disconnected” (2). While critics claim students are losing their critical thinking skills, Cutterham states that “students are using their critical faculties to uncover structures of power in their own academic and social environment” (2). He also states that professors and other educators are becoming more “coddled” than their students and are afraid that their mishaps and small mistakes will cause them to be torn to shreds (2). He also says that in wanting students to end protests “for their own good”, they are trying to protect themselves. This is the change in dynamic that is Cutterham is using for his

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By the end of that month over thousands participated in sit-ins across the American south, many people were arrested, but even more people joined in on the cause. Gladwell states, “These events in the early sixties became a civil-rights war that engulfed the South for the rest of the decade—and it happened without e-mail, texting, Facebook, or Twitter”(Why the revolution will not be tweeted). According to Gladwell, some people claim to suggest that we are living in a time of revolution due to the tools of social media. People are now able to collaborate a lot easier, and thus people are now able to speak out against

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Advancements in technology have been made up to a point where it is changing the way we think about social matters and how we respond and act towards a specific social matter. Everyday our brains adapt to the way technology works and therefore create a different “output” action-- it will change the way we respond to a certain social issue. Comparing present-day “activism” and the activism from the 60s, it can be seen that indeed, technology has played a great role towards our view and definition of activism, and what being an activist really means. Both Nicholas Carr’s essay, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?”, and Malcolm Gladwell’s essay, “Small Change,” both exemplify the way in which technology can be both a positive and negative influence in

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1180 Words | 5 Pages

In “Small Change: Revolution Not be Tweeted” by Malcolm Gladwell , Gladwell explains his own thoughts on why even in the age of technology social media will never be the strongest way to display activism. Throughout the article the author highlights what he feels makes activism work and what he feels may not work. He thoroughly explains his reasoning for his opinions by using rhetorical strategies. For example, he notes that for a cause to be effective the people pursuing it must have a strong tie or a strong connection to it. This can tie/connection can come from experiencing the problem first hand or having multiple friends or family already involved in the cause.

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1127 Words | 5 Pages

Face-to-face contact was the most important aspect to building a strong grassroots following for The Civil Rights Movement. Nowadays, political activism manifests itself online and, if lucky, is addressed by politicians. Turkle mentions, “Technology makes it easy to communicate when we wish and to disengage at will” (274). Turkle references motivation and how people are uncommitted to communications with others. Being able to disengage at will allows people to do whatever they want.

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1415 Words | 6 Pages

An unemployed millennial joins his fellow comrades, creating an army whose mission is to march to Wall Street, the pit of corporate greed. The army is equipped with picket fences and posters, and is ready to fight in order to seize what is rightfully theirs. They fight, and as the war they wage is continuing strong, those on the sidelines observe that the eternal struggle, the one marked with social media activism that has created an entire movement to Occupy Wall Street has changed absolutely nothing. Occupy Wall Street was an example of social media activism that demonstrates social media alone cannot change challenging problems, and confirms Malcolm Gladwell’s argument about the ineffectiveness of social media activism in affecting legitimate

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The book argues that the mass media fundamentally misunderstood what the Occupy Wall Street movement was trying to accomplish and therefore misunderstood the methods, that a lack of one demand or leaders was not due to disorganization or political immaturity, but represented the very core of what the movement was trying to realize. Smaligo asserts that it was vital for Occupy not to have just one demand, because a single demand could never fully encapsulate the needs of everyone within the “99 percent;” instead, the movement focused on a list of grievance releasing the Declaration of the Occupation of Wall Street (a list of their grievances) and a flowchart illustrating the connected nature of their shared grievances. The book also analyzes the movements complicated relationship toward capitalism and violence and sexual assault. Lastly Smaligo demonstrates the lasting impact of the Occupy movement, how it brought the discussion income inequality and the American Police State into the mainstream political discourse, how groups like Occupy Our Homes and Occupy Sandy continue the movements message and work, and that the hope and sense of community that the movement instilled has lived on past the movements

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1029 Words | 5 Pages

When Carr talks about how the internet is taking over his mental state he states, “And what the net seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation” (32). The internet is no longer be used as just a tool, it is taking a mental toll on him. The internet now consumes his mind, and is creating a new state of mind in which he cannot focus for long periods of time anymore. Gladwell touches on how the internet is taking over how activists convey their feelings and argues, “It makes it easier for activists to express themselves, and harder for that expression to have an impact” (51). Being an activist in today’s time, with the advances of technology, makes a social activists way of expression through the internet easier, but at the same time the activists loses it power of impact.

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If people would not have joined those events, there would not be an article to read today. By having worthy causes and fairly easy ways to help, the protests and campaigns all conquered what they were made for and did their duty. By the repetition of these events, one understands that the importance is placed on the activism. With the development of social media, activism has skyrocketed and the knowledge of social movements is widely known. The contrasting events, such as the four young men’s boycott versus the Bhatia campaign, all help give the reader more ways to understand the activism.

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988 Words | 4 Pages

A big downside about today 's society is that some of them only know how to fight for something they want “behind the screens”, it is easy to start a petition and get people to sign it but the problem with this situation is that people realize how easy it is to sign a petition and can easily fake it. Without protests things would change in a big way and that would easily allow the oppressors to stay in power and silence the people. Technology is a good thing for taking a stand for or against something and calling out flaws in today 's society. Sadly some people aren’t socially aware or are socially aware and shy to speak up about today’s injustices and take a stand against bad things such as: the possible presidency of the wrong people who don 't deserve the privilege of controlling the country and influencing the minds of people with horrible absurd theories about certain identity groups and instill fear and hatred in the minds of people. Such things can be affected by technology which can influence the people towards making the right people popular and standing up for their ideas and not letting the

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The Blind Reality of Power Dynamics The Facebook Dilemma and 13th films were made as informative and educational films with historical footage to accentuate important social issues. Both films present a chronological structure of the developments, with many prominent figures and events in our society. Both provide an insightful look at how power, technology, and social justice interact in modern society. While 13th explores the prison-industrial complex and the historical progression of racial injustice, The Facebook Dilemma examines the ethical issues and social consequences of social media platforms. The films 13th and The Facebook Dilemma serve as powerful calls to action, compelling society to recognize and address the fundamental injustices perpetuated by large corporate or political entities,

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Gladwell illustrates his argument that social media is not an effective tool for change or revolution by giving examples from the present where social media has claimed to be helpful although it was not, and examples from the past where although social media did not yet exist activist were more successful. When presenting his argument, Gladwell’s diction and writing style allow his article to be so successful and convincing. He starts with a story, and then explains why the example supports his reasoning. This approach makes him seem extremely educated, reinforcing the strengths of his argument. Throughout his article, Gladwell also demonstrates numerous dependable qualities such as self-confidence, experience, and persuasiveness.

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1915 Words | 8 Pages

Prior to the creation of websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr , communicating an idea to large numbers of people was slow and limited. What options did exist were flawed: newspapers edit and monitor the editorials they choose to publish, and social mobilization requires phone calls and handwriting letters-- a time consuming and labor intensive task. Social Media replaces editorials with blog posts that cannot be censored, and Facebook groups with the time and location of protests, replace slow and expensive phone campaigns. Furthermore, the internet allows people around the world to discuss current events in real time.

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505 Words | 3 Pages

While the significance and morality of activists may be called into question, one cannot understate the impact that activism has had in inciting social change. Without the ardent determination fueling protesters, the Stonewall Riots wouldn’t have brought basic human rights to LGBT+ individuals, segregation would still be a legally sanctioned part of society, and women would continue to be unable to vote or hold office. Activism has many faces. The prevalence of social media has allowed for individuals to take part in activism with greater ease by donating money to causes they feel passionately for. One can raise awareness for a cause by tweeting about it, creating facebook groups, or through utilization of a number of online social venues that allow for the sharing of ideas.

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Throughout centuries of investigation, the understanding of Nature had gone through some revolutionary changes and it accounts for the shaping of modern society. In this paper, the revolutionary changes from Aristotle to Newton, and from the creationists to Darwin will be discussed. Furthermore, the importance of these changes for the shaping of modern society will be introduced. From Aristotle to Newton, the understanding of Nature had changed from philosophic thinking to the mathematics representation. Aristotle understood the Nature simply by observing the real object and thought of a theory to explain the reality people see.

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