About This Project
Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash
This project began as a simple idea: create a timeline of digital activism. But as I dug deeper into research, it became clear that activism online is far more complex than hashtags and viral moments.
Through my background in education, digital communication, and UX design, I recognized a gap in which students needed a way to understand not just the history of digital activism, but also how to navigate and engage with it responsibly.
Why This Matters
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Why This Matters *
Social media platforms are flooded with misinformation, making it harder for people to distinguish facts from false narratives. Algorithms often prioritize engagement over accuracy, meaning sensationalized or misleading content can spread faster than verified information. Additionally, platforms have been known to shadowban or suppress activist content, limiting its reach, whether intentionally or due to algorithmic bias. During protests and movements like Black Lives Matter, activists noticed that certain hashtags and posts were being hidden from search results, reducing visibility.
Misinformation & Censorship
Hashtags and viral posts can spark conversations, but likes and shares don’t always translate into real-world action. Many individuals and brands engage in performative activism, where they post statements of support without taking meaningful action. This can lead to a false sense of progress while real issues remain unaddressed. The Blackout Tuesday movement in 2020 resulted in millions of black squares posted on Instagram. However, activists later pointed out that the action cluttered important informational posts and failed to encourage meaningful steps toward change.
Performative Activism
While social media empowers activists, it’s still controlled by corporations that decide what gets promoted, monetized, or suppressed. Activist movements often clash with the financial interests of tech companies, leading to policies that prioritize advertisers over social change. Climate activists have called out platforms like Facebook and YouTube for allowing fossil fuel companies to spread misleading ads, even as they suppress environmental activism content.
Corporate Influence
One of the biggest hurdles in digital activism is keeping momentum alive after the initial wave of interest fades. Many movements go viral for a moment but struggle to maintain long-term engagement, funding, or structural impact. The #BringBackOurGirls campaign raised global awareness about the 2014 kidnapping of Nigerian schoolgirls, yet media attention and global action declined over time, leaving activists to continue the fight with less public support.
Sustained Engagement
Purpose Of This Project
Understanding these barriers is crucial for anyone engaging in digital activism. This project aims to bridge the gap between awareness and action by:
Providing a historical timeline of digital activism to track its impact.
Offering a Digital Activism Lab that teaches responsible and ethical engagement.Creating classroom-ready resources to educate the next generation of activists.
By studying these challenges, we can learn how to move beyond performative gestures and into meaningful, lasting change.
This site serves as an evolving resource for understanding, engaging, and improving digital activism.
I’d love to hear your thoughts, insights, or feedback. Let’s continue the conversation!