Tool for change

• Castells (Neo-Marxist) 


  • Digital communication has been used to cut hierarchies and create 'mass self-communication'
  • Digital media is being used to create outrage and hope which leads to positive social change
  • Arab 2010 uprisings used cyber activism to challenge the authoritarian government
  • Egypt revolution filmed police repression and uploaded it worldwide - by using platforms like Youtube, the proletariat are in control of the narrative
  • Protestors can organise themselves using live chats
• Examples of online social activism

  #Blacklivesmatter - US based campaign against police brutality after the death of George Floyd

  #MeToo - feminist movement that highlighted how common sexual assault is
• Kirkpatrick 


  • Digital networks empower regular people - power balance has shifted
  • Customers and employees now have the power to communicate their opinions to the public and the companies are forced to respond or watch their power diminish
  • E.g. TripAdvisor and Glassdoor
• Haraway


  • Women should try occupy every digital space they can as a solution to patriarchal oppression.  
  • Agricultural and industrial revolutions did not benefit women - if they don’t embrace technology then they will be sidelined again 
  • Women need to be at the decision table in tech offices to stop it developing in a ‘masculine’ way 
  • New technology can free us from traditional thinking - Cyborgs are non-binary so could be liberating.  
• Giddens 



  • Globalisation has led to detraditionalization, a decline in traditional behaviour. 
  • Example: global campaigns such as #girlsnotbrides and #metoo have led to greater global awareness of gender inequality.  
• Giddens 


  • Digital media has led to the ‘democratization of society’ in where everyone has access to information and anyone can voice their opinions, giving everyone a level of power 
  • 500 million Twitter users and 3 billion Facebook users in 2023