Social Media and Its Effects on Socio-Political Movements. Online Activism and Information Sharing on Social Media Platforms

Seminar paper from the year 2018 in the subject Communications - Journalism, Journalism Professions, grade: 2,3, Free University of Berlin, language: English, abstract: This paper will explore the effect of social media tools and tactics on contemporary socio-political movements, how these tools are used, and to what effect. Emphasis will be placed on media struggles in raising awareness, organizing actions, building networks and creating communities. It reviews the literature on Occupy movements, Black Lives Matter and other recent social protests, and then focuses on problems related to the use of social media that might undermine the success of internet-based movements as well as the significance of digital divides that cut across social movements.