Beliefs, Politics & Ethics

Social Media and Internet activism is just another phenomenon that the internet has helped to create but is it the best platform for it? Shirky (2011) suggests that with the growth in the communications sector due to the inception of the internet and social media that there are more opportunities  for citizens around the world to engage in public speech and collective activism. Hamelink (2006) however brings to light the ethical issues that surround social media activism due to the human characteristic to deceptively communicate messages in order to benefit the writer and not necessarily the cause.

The recent KONY 2012 activist movement via the internet is an excellent example of whether ethics and internet activism go hand in hand. The issuing organisation of the video received incredible amounts of support but was then later suspected of falsely raising money for commercial gain and detracting from real on-the-ground organisations. By simply participating in the Facebook and YouTube campaign people believed to be generally making a difference but the as Hamelink (2006) suggests it is deceptive to think social, economic and political problems can so easily be resolved through such simple means as virtually joining a cause.

I believe the ideas behind these social media campaigns initially have very ethical boundaries but with the fast moving pace and misinformation surrounding the internet the message can often get lost and manipulated.

For further discussion on this topic visit Micaela Amabile’s blog on these issues.

References:

Hamelink, C (2006). “The Ethics of the Internet: Can we cope with Lies and Deceit on the Net?”  New Jersey: Hampton Press.

Invisible Children. (2012). Kony 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2012, from  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Shirky, C (2011) “The Political Power of Social Media: Technology, the Public Sphere, and Political Change”. Foreign Affairs.