likes don’t save lives: introducing activists.org

Creating the Perfect Social Movement Platform for the Future

- Evgeny Morozov, 2009

Perceptions of Effectiveness of Action

Social Capital

Personal Connection to the Core Goals of the Movement

Survey showing the perception of the effectiveness of political activities.

From How do I change politics? Evaluating the effectiveness of political participation

modes by Sara Vissers and Dietlind Stolle

Source: Peace Boat Volunteer Center and Hack for Japan (2012)

Internet39%

SocialMedia13%

TV,Radio11%

Newspaper,Magazine

7%

Symposium2%

Family,Friends22%

Other6%

Howdidknowvolunteerfordisaster?(M.A) • Tohoku Earthquake in 2011, 15,000

died, 3,000 still missing.

• 70% volunteered 2 times, 42% more

than 4 times.

• 40% were notified via Internet, 12% by

social media

• Two roles social media played:

shared the contexts of disaster areas

changed our perception of

volunteering into active.

ACTIVISTS.ORG

ACTIVISTS.ORG

Enable rapid and viral dissemination of accurate information, and equally well-distributed corrections to viral information.

Translate online support into real world action.

Allow participants to accurately gauge the their level of participation, i.e. no slacktivist illusions.

Allow social movements to easily raise awareness and get organized.

Accountability mechanisms for both social movements and individuals.

Maintaining access to the platform despite firewalls.

• Users earn points for

participation

• Users have a participation level

based on how active they are

• Users can start their own social

movements

• Users are peer-rated for

responsible and accountable

participation

• Users can share reports,

pictures, and video about

the social movements they

are involved in

• Every movement and

event can have a hashtag,

and social movement

hashtags will also be

mined from Facebook and

Twitter

• Updates on social

movements, events

they organize, and

friends will appear

on the news feed

• ‘Share’ and

like/dislike system

for measuring

community approval

and disapproval

• Any corrections to

viral reports will be

disseminated along

the viral pathways

• Platform includes a

citizen news desk,

wiki for social

movements, and

ranking of social

movements for

accountability and

effectiveness

• Well-supported

movements, and daily

selections by the

activists.org staff, will

be displayed on the

front page

App for providing mobile access and enabling citizen reportage on the go

System for providing rudimentary access via SMS or email

(for example, after messaging ‘subscribe #gayprideuganda’, a user will receive SMS updates from that movement)