Social Media, Civic Engagement, and Participation in the Digital Age
1. Social Media, Civic Engagement, and
Participation in the Digital Age
Jimmy Young, Ph.D., MSW
Twitter: @Jimmysw
Assistant Professor
Department of Social work
6. What is Social Media?
• Social Media- “a group of Internet-based
applications that build on the ideological and
technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that
allow the creation and exchange of User
Generated Content” (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010).
9. Forms of Participatory Culture
• Affiliations – Formal/informal communities
• Expressions – Digital Sampling or Videomaking
• Collaborative Problem solving – Working in
teams to complete tasks
• Circulations – Shaping the flow of media
11. New Media Literacies
• Media Literacies are competencies that enable
people to analyze, evaluate, and create
messages in a wide variety of media forms.
• NEW MEDIA LITERACIES- are competencies
AND social skills! They build on the foundation
of traditional literacy, research skills,
etc…taught in the classroom, but shift the
focus from one of individual expression to one
of community involvement.
17. Digital Activism
• E-advocacy- is the use of technologically
intensive media to influence stakeholders to
effect policy change.
• Digital Activism- Electronic media to help with
causes or movements.
18. Benefits
-Cost Savings
-Small Orgs. Can display more
impressive efforts to the public
-Efforts can span time and distance
more effectively
-Potential to reach a greater audience
19. Effects of the Internet on Advocacy and Activism
1. Changed how people find and use
information
2.Enables people to connect with others from
virtually anywhere
3.Provides greater Publicity and Interaction
21. Strategies
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Think about the mission
What do you want to accomplish?
Develop REALISTIC goals
Think about Authenticity, Transparency, &
Accountability
25. The questions still remain.
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Does social media contribute to the success of a cause?
When you participate online, does it diminish your civic engagement activities?
Are you indeed a slacktivist?
How do we move from a Status Update or Tweet to real tangible action?
• Does this new medium provide for increased opportunities to engage in causes
that were once far removed from you?
• Do we actually need to move towards tangible action or have we actually made an
impact simply by sharing a video, sharing an image, or retweeting?