Samantha Veilleux 

Professor Miller 

ENG 110

28 November 2023

A New Type of Activism 

Our world is ever-changing ; year after year, day after day, minute after minute, change is taking place in every way. This change affects everything, and activism is no exception. As technology and social media use has increased, activism has adapted new forms. Where those of the past had put up posters and held signs, those of today can click a heart or share a post. This is not to say that the physical activism of the past is gone – it’s not, rather there is a new type of activism that has become increasingly present in life today, that being digital activism. Along with this rise in digital activism have come questions about its effectiveness. For Malcolm Gladwell, the author of “Small Change”, an article about the relationships between social media and social activism, activism via social media doesn’t hold the same effect as physical activism. Writing on different specifics but furthering the same ideals against social media and technology is Nicholas Carr, who wrote “Is Google Making Us Stupid” which focuses on the integration of technology into our everyday life and its consequent negative effects. However, the question of the effectiveness of digital versus physical activism isn’t so black and white. I can see benefit in the widespread visibility of digital activism yet also recognize its flaws in terms of connection and deep participation. Additionally, I understand the importance of physical activism, yet see limits in its ability to have a widespread impact. Thus, I believe that it should not be a debate about which type of activism is better, but rather a conversation about how these two types can work together to have the largest impact.  

Furthering the idea of change, both authors write on how social media and technology use has altered our lives. For Gladwell, this change is reflected in terms of the connections and ties built around digital activism. Gladwell believes  that the foundation of activism has changed along with social media usage as digital activism is built on the foundation of weak ties, whereas activism of the past was built upon stronger ties. According to Gladwell, “The kind of activism associated with social media isn’t like this at all. The platforms of social media are built around weak ties”, and “Weak ties seldom lead to high-risk activism.”(Gladwell,7). Essentially, Gladwell argues that since digital activism lacks the physical social component that in person activism does, it does not create strong bonds and ties between the activist and the cause. This then leads to a lack of high-risk activism, which according to Gladwell is the type of activism that makes the biggest impact. Additionally, Carr writes of change in a broader sense that connects and helps bring together Gladwell’s sentiments, focusing instead on how the increased use of technology has altered  our minds. According to Carr, “Over the past few years I’ve had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory. My mind isn’t going – so far as I can tell – but it’s changing. I’m not thinking the way I used to think.” (Carr 1). By this, Carr is saying that because of increased technological reliance, our minds have begun to physically change, therefore,  the way in which we now think, remember, and understand things has changed. Much of what Carr expresses here connects to Gladwell beliefs as well. The physical changes our minds are undergoing might explain the changes in social ties Gladwell wrote of. Due to the changes in the way that we think and understand, our brains may not be forming as strong of connections or understandings towards social issues and activism, and thus this is consequently resulting in the weak ties that Gladwell expressed. In these regards, I agree with both Gladwell and Carr, as I too believe that social media creates a disconnect from the actual cause and thus creates a weakened sense of activism, and that this may be due to the change that technology has undoubtedly had on our brains. Additionally, social media activism can also lead to people feeling as though they need to participate in digital activism, since they see others doing so and feel almost guilted into participating. This in turn creates more weak ties since those who feel this way are participating in the activism, yet not being fully connected or invested in the issue at hand. Despite how social media and technology has modified our minds, I believe that weak tie activism can have some effect. Any type of activism, no matter the ties associated, helps to spread awareness and ideas about important issues. Additionally, although digital activism may not be leading to strong ties and the high-risk impactful activism that goes along with it, it is still a form of activism and thus making a difference. However, despite the differences that social media activism can make, it is important to realize that activism via social media does create a disconnect which results in it being weaker than physical activism.  

In addition to the changes to our mind and the strength of ties associated with activism, Gladwell also is of the belief that the expression which digital activism creates does not have as great of an impact as physical activism. To argue this, Gladwell writes that social media “shifts our energies from organizations that promote strategic and disciplined activity toward those which promote resilience and adaptability. It makes it easier for activists to express themselves, but harder for that expression to have any impact.”(Gladwell, 14).  In this, Gladwell is saying that digital activism via social media has shifted the energies of activists and has consequently made expression easier, yet in doing so it has also resulted in expression having less of an impact, as it is widespread and diluted compared to in person activism. In essence, Gladwell is expressing that technology is changing the way in which do things, specifically activism, and that this change is consequently affecting the strength and impact that activism has. Furthering this idea of technology changing the way in which we do things is Carr’s writing. Carr states that “The internet, an immeasurably powerful computing system, is subsuming most of our other intellectual technologies. It’s becoming our map and our clock, our printing press and our typewriter, our calculator and our telephone, and our radio and TV.” (Carr, 4 / 5). By this, Carr is saying that the internet is influencing the way in which we live by engulfing resources that we use daily. As a result of this, in order to use these resources, we must go on the internet as the internet has consequently become these things. Additionally, this sentiment mirrors that of Gladwell’s, as Carr’s writing of the internet becoming our new medium also applies to activism. Just like the internet became our map, clock, and calculator, it has now become our means for activism and expression, and this adaptation has resulted in weakened activism. Here is where I disagree with what Gladwell and Carr are saying, as I push against the idea that the shift in activism from physical to social media makes it harder for activism to have an impact. Instead, I believe any amount of activism, no matter where it takes place, can have an impact. Simply because the internet has adapted the resources does not mean that those resources are no longer useful. In fact, I would argue that the shift of activism to social media actually increases the impact that expression can have. Social media allows for people to spread the news and awareness of issues easily, which in turn allows for more people to see and become aware of activism, thus leading to more people getting involved in the activism and said activism having a greater impact. Additionally, if paired with physical activism, the availability of information and widespread expression that digital activism provides can lead to the largest and most widespread impact. Thus, I argue against Gladwell’s sentiment that social media makes it harder for expression to have an impact and Carr’s implication that the shift of resources towards the internet is inherently negative. Rather, I believe that these things lead to greater knowledge, expression, and in the end a greater impact. 

            Although both Gladwell and Carr share opinions differing from my own, seeing more of the negative connotations associated with increased internet use and digital technology, there is merit behind some of their points. It would be untrue to state that digital activism has only negative effects, or to state that it has only positive effects. Instead one should recognize the flaws that are associated with solely digital activism, and the limits of solely physical as well, yet also appreciate the benefits which each type provides. Thus, the best outcome requires cooperation between these two types, and by combining both physical and digital activism the greatest impact can be had. Furthermore, this essence of cooperation and the bringing together of two differing ways is in line with the goal of activism itself, making compromises and changes towards the greater good. 

Works Cited

Carr, Nicholas. “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 11 Feb. 2022, www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868. Accessed 14 Nov, 2023. 

Gladwell, Malcolm. “Small Change.” The New Yorker, 27 Sept. 2010, www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/10/04/small-change-malcolm-gladwell. Accessed 29 Nov, 2023.