likes don’t save lives: introducing activists.org
DESCRIPTION
How do we overcome the challenge of slacktivism that new media encourages? We make new media platforms better by creating our own - a prototype of a social media platform for activism we have dubbed activists.org. This website is still an idea and not yet realised. If you would like to help make this idea a reality, do drop me a message! This presentation was formulated at the Global Cross-Disciplinary Tournament (GXT) held at Peking University in 2013.TRANSCRIPT
Creating the Perfect Social Movement Platform for the Future
- Evgeny Morozov, 2009
Perceptions of Effectiveness of Action
Social Capital
Personal Connection to the Core Goals of the Movement
Survey showing the perception of the effectiveness of political activities.
From How do I change politics? Evaluating the effectiveness of political participation
modes by Sara Vissers and Dietlind Stolle
Source: Peace Boat Volunteer Center and Hack for Japan (2012)
Internet39%
SocialMedia13%
TV,Radio11%
Newspaper,Magazine
7%
Symposium2%
Family,Friends22%
Other6%
Howdidknowvolunteerfordisaster?(M.A) • Tohoku Earthquake in 2011, 15,000
died, 3,000 still missing.
• 70% volunteered 2 times, 42% more
than 4 times.
• 40% were notified via Internet, 12% by
social media
• Two roles social media played:
shared the contexts of disaster areas
changed our perception of
volunteering into active.
ACTIVISTS.ORG
ACTIVISTS.ORG
Enable rapid and viral dissemination of accurate information, and equally well-distributed corrections to viral information.
Translate online support into real world action.
Allow participants to accurately gauge the their level of participation, i.e. no slacktivist illusions.
Allow social movements to easily raise awareness and get organized.
Accountability mechanisms for both social movements and individuals.
Maintaining access to the platform despite firewalls.
• Users earn points for
participation
• Users have a participation level
based on how active they are
• Users can start their own social
movements
• Users are peer-rated for
responsible and accountable
participation
• Users can share reports,
pictures, and video about
the social movements they
are involved in
• Every movement and
event can have a hashtag,
and social movement
hashtags will also be
mined from Facebook and
• Updates on social
movements, events
they organize, and
friends will appear
on the news feed
• ‘Share’ and
like/dislike system
for measuring
community approval
and disapproval
• Any corrections to
viral reports will be
disseminated along
the viral pathways
• Platform includes a
citizen news desk,
wiki for social
movements, and
ranking of social
movements for
accountability and
effectiveness
• Well-supported
movements, and daily
selections by the
activists.org staff, will
be displayed on the
front page
App for providing mobile access and enabling citizen reportage on the go
System for providing rudimentary access via SMS or email
(for example, after messaging ‘subscribe #gayprideuganda’, a user will receive SMS updates from that movement)