Social Media And Social Change

With the enhancement in technology, it is now accessible to communicate and connect with people across the world. It is effortless to share information like pictures, advertisements, videos and text messages all over the world, to whomever you desire. To many people, it is perceived as a form of entertainment. However, many people do not realize it can also be used as a form of social activism. Summer Harlow author of "Social media and social movements: Facebook and an online Guatemalan justice movement that moved offline" argues that social media is very effective to create social (online) and physical (offline) activism. While Malcolm Gladwell author of "Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted" identifies that internet activism is an instant frenzy that creates a brief impact but is not adequate enough to remain on its own. When media is used as an intellectual resource for activism it can expose people 's conscious about diverse predicaments or movements occurring around the globe. In today 's contemporary society people had the power to create a significant change in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community by having same sex marriage legalized in all 50 states. The hashtag #LoveWins became possible in the United States by social and physical activism which included engagement with social networks.

Nowadays, social media is practically a staple in everyone’s lives. While some use it solely to stay in touch with friends or family, others wouldn’t even know the latest of current events if they didn’t have their phone notifying them that their friends are talking about it. The Internet and social media have bred a new generation of socially-aware people which has given them a platform to learn and share on. Because this generation’s growth is largely-based online and through technology, it has formed a new brand of social activism. While some feel social media has made it too easy to claim a movement or position, others believe that it is what we need to spread a message

In his article “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted”, published in the New York Times on October 2010, Malcolm Gladwell looks closely into the notion of social change and the different means to achieve it. He makes a clear distinction between traditional activism, which implies sacrifices and physical devotion, and current activism, based on social networks. The writer considers that “social media can’t provide what social change has always required” (Gladwell, paragraph 1).

Small Change written by Malcolm Gladwell argues the idea of social media playing a role in revolutionary movements. Social media allows others to make connections and gather together rather than coming together to make a difference. Gladwell begins his essay with the sit-in participants of the 1960’s. He compares the manner in which people come together through social media versus how people came together during the Civil Rights movement. Gladwell makes his points that Twitter is an effective tool of rallying, getting together in person proves to be more effective. The network of connections twitter provides only allow weak bonds to form and prevents

For example, Shirky explains that there is the openness to allow individual to “join” a cause and allow individuals to get involved at a click of a mouse. In addition, Shirky states that these social media outlets are fantastic networking tools to be used for gathering individuals to join a cause. Gladwell defends his side by stating “simply a form of organizing which favors the weak-tie connections that gives us access to information over the strong-tie connection that help us persevere in the face of danger.” (Gladwell 327). Gladwell uses this method to expose the reader of where he is coming from. He is acknowledging why people use Facebook, Twitter and other social media devices, but he still stands by his position throughout the article.

Malcolm Gladwell argues through social media “the traditional relationship between political authority and popular will has been upended, making it easier for the powerless to collaborate, coordinate and give voice to their concerns,” but ultimately concedes this collaboration doesn’t provide enough social motivation to act (Gladwell,

Name: Arquimides San Sebastian Instructor: Ruben Aguilar Course: ENC1102 Date:5/14/15 Response to Malcolm Gladwell’s Small Change and Dan Savage's It Gets Better In his article, Small Change, Malcolm Gladwell describes two kind of activism: the traditional style and its modern online variant, social media. He discusses pro and cons of both methods.

With the increase in use technology and social media, Malcolm Gladwell wrote a relevant article to today: “Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted”. After reading Gladwell’s article, I found myself agreeing to his ideas that social networks, although convenient in spreading information and raising awareness, are ineffective in creating the bond and community necessary to make a change or a big impact in society.

As a logical consequence, Postmes and Brunsting (2002) reasoned that the Internet is changing society because people's cognitive processes, triggered by access to information and communication, replace the strong social ties that traditionally underpin committed activism. In simpler words, in the past, humanity used the herd instinct as the main driving force behind committed forms of activism. Thanks to the Internet, we climb another step or three on the evolutionary ladder, and simply do away with the herd instinct and replace it with reason. The argument, if put this way, does not sound particularly strong. What can be taken away is that social media is still evolving, that social media changes the way we – or most of us communicate, that social media is used in social and political activism, and that the Internet increases quantitative if not qualitative access to information.

In less than two decades, social media has revolutionized modern communication and information sharing. What began as a simple form of social networking has turned into innumerable platforms for people around the globe to share ideas, create and share businesses, promote brands, read news from various sources, as well as share and find vast amounts of information, among many other uses. Thus, with a few clicks of a button, people are now able to interact with someone on the other side of the world. The capabilities created through social media’s many uses have forever changed global politics, business, and interpersonal communication.

No matter how much potential social media has for political or societal change it is important to criticize its negative aspects. An article written by Andrea Moncada, begins her argument with the question has social media had the same impact on advocacy. Similar to Gladwell’s points of view, Moncada states, “social media can help get the word around, but participants must be united by a core message and traditional methods…” This source of uncertainty is the basis for its support and is understandable.

As technology develops rapidly in the modern society, the broad social influence it brings is also widely discussed, especially about its effects on social change. In the past, social movements were raised without the help of technology, specifically without social media, whereas social media has recently played a non-ignorable role. The connection between social media and social activisms concerned, here come some different voices. Few people maintain that social media now has no practical influence on social change, while others hold the opposite view, thinking social media is already a crucial factor in it. Personally speaking, I agree with the second kind of view: it is true that social media is not able to create social movements by itself in today’s world, but it plays an important and essential part in making real social change.

Throughout the last decade, social media has drastically changed the way people interact with others. Websites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram have taken the world by storm. It has never been easier to have a conversation with family members, friends, or even strangers who live millions of miles away. Due to the rise of social media, people have become more aware of social issues and have become aware of the world around them. They can easily read the news online or catch up on the latest celebrity drama. Social media improves the way humans communicate because it allows ideas to be spread quickly and efficiently to a global audience.

“Social networks are successful because they offer widespread participation, but at the same time, they open their users up to unnecessarily dangerous exposure.” (Herring, Mark Y.. Social Media and the Good Life: Do They Connect? Jefferson NC: McFarland, 2015. ProQuest ebrary. Web. 10 September 2016.). Social media (sometimes defined as social network/networks) can be used to promote your ideas. Promoting your ideas through social media is a great way your voice to be heard by millions of other users using the same social media you use every day. Promoting may get you discovered by celebrities/authors/people who are looking for good marketing. However, some ideas/opinions you choose to express may cause an uproar of cyberbullying and may cause negative attention to be directed towards you, which nobody wants to deal with. Communication is also a great advantage that social media

Social media is any website that allows social interaction. Social media is growing rapidly throughout the world. More adults and teenagers are joining sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter to interact with friends, family, and strangers. The introduction of social media has changed the world in many ways. It affects each individual in different ways. Today it can be used as a very helpful tool in changing a person’s life, but at the same time cause such conflicts which can negatively impact a person. While there are some negatives associated with social media, the positives in communication all around, has made the world stronger and a better place to live in.