2008 Woodie Awards
Digital demonstrations
By: David Veselenak
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: News
Students looking to protest high gas prices can do so without having to leave their desk.
They can join one of the hundreds of Facebook.com groups dedicated to lowering gas prices.
To support breast cancer research, someone can click their mouse to add a pink ribbon to their profile.
There are many ways students are getting involved with cyberactivism without knowing it.
"Facebook is one way that people can become involved," said Lesley Withers, associate professor of communication and dramatic arts. "Activism is all about networking."
Cyberactivism is the use of technology to coordinate the masses on social and political issues.
With the new technology of the Internet and cell phones being available, people are able to protest virtually anything.
The trend has gained popularity within the last 10 years, Withers said.
Virtual revolutions
One of the largest cyberactivism protests involving college students happened in 2006, when Facebook debuted the addition of the "newsfeed," an application that would inform users on the actions of other users.
Hundreds of thousands of users joined Facebook groups protesting the move while national media focused on the effects of the movement against the social networking site. The newsfeed, which opponents said invades privacy, has since stayed on.
Withers said most cyberactivist movements occur to mobilize people in real life.
"(Cyberactivism) uses online technology to coordinate some social interest," she said.
The Internet is not the only tool used to mobilize the masses in times of protest. Withers said she read an example where a mass of people all used their cell phones to text message one another to give the signal to open umbrellas.
She said technology has opened up the way people comment on social and political issues.
"It brings people together in ways it would have been difficult a few years ago," she said.
Expanding the web
Cyberactivism doesn't just involves college students.
Many politicians are using the Internet to keep in contact with citizens in their districts.
"The web has changed how individuals have contacted our office," said Paul Burns, director of constituent relations for Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-Dewitt.
Burns said although Cropsey does not have a blog, the Internet has significantly changed how citizens contact his office.
"Individuals would read a newspaper article and zip us an e-mail about it," Burns said. "A lot of times, it becomes a discussion. We're able to give more info on the topic."
First-class mail has decreased in Cropsey's office, Burns said.
"We do get a lot of e-mail that's replaced snail mail," he said.
news@cm-life.com
They can join one of the hundreds of Facebook.com groups dedicated to lowering gas prices.
To support breast cancer research, someone can click their mouse to add a pink ribbon to their profile.
There are many ways students are getting involved with cyberactivism without knowing it.
"Facebook is one way that people can become involved," said Lesley Withers, associate professor of communication and dramatic arts. "Activism is all about networking."
Cyberactivism is the use of technology to coordinate the masses on social and political issues.
With the new technology of the Internet and cell phones being available, people are able to protest virtually anything.
The trend has gained popularity within the last 10 years, Withers said.
Virtual revolutions
One of the largest cyberactivism protests involving college students happened in 2006, when Facebook debuted the addition of the "newsfeed," an application that would inform users on the actions of other users.
Hundreds of thousands of users joined Facebook groups protesting the move while national media focused on the effects of the movement against the social networking site. The newsfeed, which opponents said invades privacy, has since stayed on.
Withers said most cyberactivist movements occur to mobilize people in real life.
"(Cyberactivism) uses online technology to coordinate some social interest," she said.
The Internet is not the only tool used to mobilize the masses in times of protest. Withers said she read an example where a mass of people all used their cell phones to text message one another to give the signal to open umbrellas.
She said technology has opened up the way people comment on social and political issues.
"It brings people together in ways it would have been difficult a few years ago," she said.
Expanding the web
Cyberactivism doesn't just involves college students.
Many politicians are using the Internet to keep in contact with citizens in their districts.
"The web has changed how individuals have contacted our office," said Paul Burns, director of constituent relations for Sen. Alan Cropsey, R-Dewitt.
Burns said although Cropsey does not have a blog, the Internet has significantly changed how citizens contact his office.
"Individuals would read a newspaper article and zip us an e-mail about it," Burns said. "A lot of times, it becomes a discussion. We're able to give more info on the topic."
First-class mail has decreased in Cropsey's office, Burns said.
"We do get a lot of e-mail that's replaced snail mail," he said.
news@cm-life.com
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