Describe how information and communication technology affects social justice initiatives.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Social movement leaders have always made use of new communication technologies to mobilize, using the telephone, radio, television, and computer as they became available. However, as new communication technologies became available, they did not replace previously existing technologies but were, instead, used alongside them. In recent years, the Internet and wireless communication networks have been used extensively in the mobilization of social movements, and the dynamic force of their use is the primary reason the study of social movements is so hot now. In the United States in 2011, there was widespread outrage about a number of issues: the massive loss of homes and real estate value when the real estate market crashed, the near collapse of the financial system caused by speculation and greed, the use of taxpayer money to bail out the financial institutions, and the payment of huge bonuses to millionaires who had caused the economic collapse-all coming after a presidential campaign that had created great hope among a large portion of the electorate, particularly young adults. This outrage was occurring in the context of energized social movements in other parts of the world, particularly the Arab Spring. On July 13, 2011, Adbusters posted a call on its blog for people to converge on lower Manhattan on September 17 and set up tents, kitchens, and so forth and occupy Wall Street. About 1,000 people showed up, demonstrated against Wall Street, and occupied nearby Zuccotti Park. Videos of police repression were posted on YouTube, which mobilized more protesters to show up. With images and messages spreading across the Internet, occupations developed spontaneously in other cities, with approximately 600 Occupy demonstrations occurring around the country. The message of the movement was spread both internally and externally by Twitter, using the hashtag #occupywallstreet. Twitter networks were used to alert participants when police action was threatened, to distribute other types of information, and to post photos, videos, and comments. Tumblr was used to humanize the movement, by providing a platform for personal, anonymous storytelling. As new Occupy camps developed around the country, most camps created their own websites with sections such as contact, how to get involved, supplies requested, resources, calendar of events and announcements, and message boards. Most camps also had a Facebook group