Examples of Digital Activism

     One big example of digital activism is the Facebook group "Saving the Children Africa". Though the group has hundreds of thousands of followers and members, they actual organization has only raised about $12,000. This means that though there was a huge turnout of virtual support, there was actually a very low amount of actual participation by its members. The location where I got his information is http://www.meta-activism.org/2011/02/net-delusion-reviewslacktivism/. Though there are a few examples of ineffective digital campaigns listed in this article, the author of the article also refutes why these few examples serve as a basis for digital activism as a failed cause. This lack of actual commitment and participation seems to be a common pitfall among digital activist causes.
     Another big recent example of an online activist cause if the recent release of the KONY 2012 video. The video itself was very artfully made and full of emotional appeal. However, the content of the video itself was very broad and simplified. It failed to give a more detailed and comprehensive overview of the current crisis in Sudan/Uganda with the government itself saying that Joseph Kony was no longer a major threat to the area. It was also revealed later that the track record of the organization behind the KONY 2012 video, Invisible Children, actually had a very poor track record for on the ground change. It was revealed that only %30 of their income was used on actual aid to the region. This website offers some extra criticism of the organization and video http://keepittrill.com/online/2012/03/kony-2012-scam-stop-supporting-invisible-children/. Kony 2012 served to highlight how an online digital activist cause can cause massive sudden support from people who know very little about the actual subject and crisis. This is due to the relative ease of giving support to the digital cause. Because it is so easy to give support, no initial research is really needed in order to start "participating" in its social change. Here is a link to the KONY 2012 video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc