Tag: Technology

Reflections: Teamwork and Digital Activism

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During the last months, the IDA WhatsApp group has been full of lively discussions. Topics have varied from supportive messages to technical problems and everything in between. Our common feeling is that we are quite proud of what we succeeded in doing together: an active blog that started from scratch.

IDA

The name IDA is an acronym for Inside Digital Activism, and it describes well what we were looking for. We wanted a modern and good-looking platform with content that dives deep into different aspects of digital activism. The banner picture refers to all that digital activism is: something you can see, say, or hear, and again sometimes it´s not accessible to all to comment, watch, or listen to.

The blog visuals were made by Ana. She says that she has always enjoyed image creation and this case was no exception.

“I had a lot of fun putting together images that would represent our thoughts and would give a cohesive aesthetic to our blog.”

The whole process was conducted remotely and digitally. The blog brought us together from different locations in Europe to work on a platform centered on the theme of Digital Protest.

Initially, we conducted a video meeting to establish the blog’s objectives and outline each person’s roles and responsibilities. Throughout the process, we adhered to our agreed-upon structure and maintained ongoing updates via our WhatsApp group chat.

“Deadlines were met with minimal stress, and the workflow was remarkably smooth. Overall, it was surprisingly efficient!” as Limin said.

What we learned?

It was very refreshing to have a completely new type of assignment, and it was interesting to think about what to write about.

 “I loved that each of us could focus on a topic that resonated with us the most. The freedom we had with topics, themes, and styles really gave us the chance to make the blog our own”, Doris explains. She was also responsible for the team’s social media involvement and advertising.

“I was honestly surprised by how time-consuming it can be—especially when you are also responsible for the teammate’s post and want to make them look good for them.”

During the process, we also talked about the role that AI plays nowadays in the content creation. Many of us use proofreading programs that use AI. Ana reflects nicely on how personal writing has a uniqueness that AI can´t yet have.

 “Writing the posts was a super entertaining activity that made me reflect a lot about my own interests and how communication and self-expression are enabled due to digital channels. Specifically on the creation of the posts, I found super interesting the role that AI plays today and will play in the coming years. There is something almost melancholic about taking the time to write a paragraph that you know could be easily created by AI, probably with way more data and information but that absolutely misses that unique character of personal writing.”

WordPress blog as a platform

Our group didn´t have much experience in using WordPress before. Tábata was the one to oversee the technical aspects of the blog.

“In a more technical role, I learned practical tasks and that was very entertaining and useful. It was a very enjoyable experience; I got to learn and present research and insights in a completely different way.”

Limin was skeptical about using WordPress. “However, this assignment left me no choice but to engage with the platform. Through this experience, I’ve realised that the user experience is not ideal, and much time was spent on configuration rather than content creation. In the future, I would select from a few other well-known blogging platforms with more intuitive setups that simplify the process and considerably reduce the learning curve.”

We managed to overcome all the techical issues. As Doris said: “But in the end, thanks to an amazing team, it turned into a valuable experience!”

Teamwork made it work

Noora´s role was to manage the process, see that all things got done in the planned schedule and so on. It was an easy task because our team worked efficiently and well throughout the process.

“Remote studying can be lonely sometimes; it was so nice to have an active WhatsApp group and peer support during the blogging. I learned a lot from my group mates and really enjoyed reading their posts.”

Group support and co-learning are great takeaways for us in this project. Doris also highlighted that:

“This kind of challenging assignment was a great way to learn about blogging in a supportive environment. It feels especially relevant since I can see myself working in communication or public engagement in the future. To sum it up, for me, the exercise was challenging and somewhat stressful, but also a great opportunity for learning!”

Ana mentioned that the blog project brought her the joy of writing.

“For some moments, I started to think that blog writing or even books, would be totally replaced by AI as it is such a “time” saving tool. But very quickly I realized that even though the tool exists, the satisfaction of self-creation and its uniqueness is totally lost when you become the spectator of your own thoughts when they are narrated by artificial intelligence. So, I regained interest in writing and also in reading the thoughts of others around me, starting with my own groupmates, who created beautiful and impactful pieces of work. I felt happy to have the chance and almost the excuse to sit and write. “

This is the last post in IDA. Thank you all for reading!

 

 

Online Inclusivity for Senior Citizens and Disabled Adults

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Source: Pixabay

The main objective of this section is to challenge the belief of the internet as a ‘great-equaliser’. However, when used correctly, it can provide opportunities for people of all ages, allowing access to information, social connections, and important services. For senior citizens, the digital landscape can feel threatening and overwhelming. They might fall for online scams, phishing and other online threats. That’s why it is essential to teach them to navigate the online world safely.

The AbilityNet webinar on “Empowering Seniors: 5 Essential Tips for Online Safety and Support” hosted by Annie Manion with guest speaker Lucy Walsh took place on October 17. The aim of the event was to offer an opportunity for people and caregivers to learn more about improving the digital literacy of seniors to keep them safe in the digital age. It also brought attention to the intersection between age and disability, as, according to the data presented, 42% of seniors in the UK have some disability. The event focused on providing practical guidance and resources for seniors to make the most of the internet while protecting themselves from common online scams and other threats.

So which tips did the webinar offer?

Accessing Support Services and Resources

Lucy Walsh shared helpful tips on how seniors can use the internet to find important services and support. From looking up healthcare info and applying for benefits to joining online support groups, the internet has a lot to offer. AbilityNet introduced several user-friendly websites and apps that can help with everything from managing money to finding mental health support.

Thanks to these online resources, seniors can live more independently and access new, important services harder to reach before. The webinar also showed how easy it can be to download apps that are safe and accessible. For example, Seeing AI is an app that narrates the world around you, while Be My Eyes connects blind and low-vision people with volunteers who can help them see things in real time.

Making text bigger, adding captions to videos and using voice commands (with Siri, Google, or Alexa) are also features that can make interactions with technology more accessible for people who are visually impaired or struggle to use their phones with their fingers, for example. These  can make a big difference in their everyday lives.

Tips to Stay Safe Online

One of the biggest threats to seniors online is scams. Phishing attempts, fraudulent emails and suspicious pop-up ads are on the rise, so it’s very important that seniors learn how to identify red flags. During the webinar, they played Moira Stuart tips video, where she suggests setting up a group chat with family and friends, downloading trusted news apps, and reaching out to loved ones or trusted organisations when something feels off.

According to Lucy, it is also important to be careful with phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages or emails asking for personal or financial details, especially if they make urgent requests or offer deals that seem too good to be true. Further advice included keeping antivirus software up to date, avoiding suspicious links, and using tools like “Have I Been Pwned” to make sure personal information hasn’t been exposed in data breaches.

The need to protect privacy online by being careful about sharing personal information on social media was another important topic brought up. Contrary to popular belief, most information theft happens when people share their personal information (phone number, financial details) through fraudulent links. The webinar also emphasised the importance of online security for seniors, covering everything from creating strong and unique –but memorable– passwords to using two-factor authentication (2FA). Lucy recommended using Dashlane, a password manager app that helps to create, store, and manage passwords securely, along with saving payment details in an encrypted way.

Staying Connected and Entertained Online

While online safety is essential, the webinar also emphasised how the internet can help seniors combat social isolation by staying in touch with family, friends and communities. Social media, instant messaging apps like WhatsApp, video calls, and online gaming were all mentioned as great ways to build relationships.

Practical tips for using popular platforms like Zoom, Skype and WhatsApp were also provided. Such platforms make it easier for seniors to connect virtually. The session also covered how to access online entertainment like BBC, YouTube, and subscription TV services, showing how the internet can enhance social engagement and overall well-being.

The importance of education and patience 

In today’s digital world, it’s important for seniors to know how to navigate the internet safely. The AbilityNet webinar shared simple tips to help seniors stay safe online and make the most of what the internet offers. However, AbilityNet also offers free digital skills courses to people over 65 and adults with disabilities all over Britain. If you know someone who might benefit from such courses, do not hesitate to search for similar trainings in your area.

Although family members and caregivers are a good source of support, they might not always know how to approach a senior’s needs. Forgetfulness or a slow learning pace might make some lose their patience. For this reason, Lucy says it is important to stick to teaching what the person needs and wants, through consistent repetition and one step at a time. 

You can visit AbilityNet’s website for more helpful info on digital accessibility and assistance.

Digital Technologies and Social Mobilisation

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Source: Freepik.

Hi, I’m Tábata, a Communication for Development student at Malmö University with a keen interest in social equity and technology.

In this section, we’ll be exploring the history of the internet and the inequalities that accompany it, from the digital divide to disparities in access and digital literacy. We’ll delve into how these issues affect various communities and examine the broader implications for development and social change. Join me as we uncover the challenges and potential solutions to creating a more equitable digital landscape for everyone! 👩🏻‍💻

Today, I am going to introduce you very briefly to the history of the internet, the relationship between digital technologies and social mobilisation and the discourse around digital inequalities during each stage.

In recent decades, both the internet and digital technologies have become easily accessible and an essential tools in our daily lives. Think about it; could you go a day without texting on your phone, looking something up online or using navigation apps such as Google Maps to find a place? You couldn’t, could you? These innovations have transformed how we work, communicate and navigate society. Because of their accessibility, many people think that digital organising is easy and free, and that the Internet increases participation in our society and reduces inequality. However, the so-called ‘great equaliser’ is not as universally accessible or empowering as it is often thought to be. The assumption that the digital space offers everyone an equal voice hides another reality: that digital inequality continues to reproduce broader societal inequalities—particularly those rooted in class power.

But, before we have a deeper look into specific examples of digital inequality (and its consequences), it’s important to have a look at the two main stages of the relationship between digital communication and social mobilisation. 

WEB 0.1 

In the 1990s, during the phase often referred to as Web 0.1, the internet was characterised by one-way communication. Information was published by a few and consumed by the many. Users mostly read and accessed content, rather than contributing to it. Additionally, user interaction was very limited and features like comments, forums, and social networking were very basic. Websites acted more like digital brochures, focusing on information dissemination without significant user engagement.

Despite these limitations, there was a significant connection between social movements and digital platforms. This era brought about the emergence of ‘activist networks’ and the concept of ‘connected multitudes,’ where collective identities were formed through shared struggles. Social movements benefitted from the growing viral communication flows, and prioritised autonomous development in reaction to the increasing commercialisation of the Internet. Free software models inspired these movements by showing that cooperation could be an effective strategy to follow.

WEB 0.2

In the 2000s, Web 2.0 transformed the internet into a more interactive, participatory space, characterised by user-generated content, dynamic websites, and rich multimedia integration. Knowledge-sharing became more accessible since platforms allowed users to create content and share it. Social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter gained immense popularity, facilitating many-to-many conversations and building online communities. These platforms gradually displaced older communication tools like email and blogs.

During this time, social movements we all saw on TV such as the Arab Spring and #MeToo used social media to spread their messages. Nonetheless, relying on these platforms meant giving up some control over how their content was managed because of the way such platforms operate.

Digital inequalities

To understand digital inequality a bit better, there are two key concepts we need to consider. The first one is affordance. So, what’s an affordance? It’s something that hints at or allows a specific action. In the digital world, affordances are tied to how tools and platforms are designed. For example, when a button looks clickable, people are likely to click it. Likewise, a user-friendly design can encourage people to get more involved and interact more actively. So far, so good. But the problem at hand is that affordances are not neutral. They can benefit certain actions, groups, or viewpoints over others and they often privilege users with specific skills, digital literacy or resources. Thus, individuals or groups who are better equipped to navigate these platforms are more likely to succeed in digital activism.

On the other hand, there is the question of affordability. This concept is more straight-forward. It simply refers to what you can afford to buy. Here, we are talking about the cost of devices, internet services, etc., all of which can limit participation in the digital sphere. This often means that wealthier individuals or communities have a clear advantage when it comes to using digital platforms for activism and other types of participation.

During the early days of the internet, these inequalities were already visible, leading to the widespread use of the term ‘digital divide’, whose main focus was on access to technology and the internet, particularly in educational settings, and prompted efforts to reduce it. As internet usage expanded, research on digital inequality evolved, moving beyond simple access to address a broader range of factors—including the ability to create, produce and effectively use digital content.

The shift from the ‘digital divide’ to ‘digital inequality’ during the Web 2.0 era raised new questions about not just who had access to online content, but also who was shaping it. These ongoing disparities, which we will explore further in future posts, highlight the fact that, in practice, becoming part of the media landscape today demands a significant amount of organisational effort, resources, and digital literacy. All of these are skills and opportunities which are far from universally accessible or low-cost.

Let us know!

We’d love to hear from you: have you or anyone in your community experienced unequal access to digital tools? How has it impacted your ability to participate in activism?

In our next blog post, we’ll take a closer look at digital inequalities by providing examples from existing literature, focusing on how these disparities continue to shape emerging social movements. Stay tuned!

Also, follow us on Instagram for more insights: @ida_insidedigitalactivism 📲

References:

Welcome to IDA

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#BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #ClimateStrike are a few examples of global and well-known movements from recent years – and they all gain their power from the digital world. These examples reached massive popularity. In the year 2020 hashtag #BlackLivesMatter was used roughly 47.8 million times on Twitter only in a few weeks. The movement was activated after the death of George Floyd. Fridays for Future and the #ClimateStrike movement went viral in 2018 as students and activists worldwide organized online to protest government inaction on climate change. Digital activism played a crucial role in coordinating climate strikes in hundreds of cities.

These are some well-known success stories of digital activism, but not the whole picture. Digital activism can also be local, unsuccessful, artistic, or even fake. IDA – Inside Digital Activism -blog dives into the digital world and takes a close look at different phenomena of digital activism.

Digital activism might look like an easy and cheap way of mobilizing people and pushing social change, all you need is a group of people with mobile phones. NGOs, political parties, and activists are all searching for the killer hashtag that would be the next viral hit and reach the audience they want. Even if you’re not targeting a global audience, activism in a digitalized world cannot exist without a digital dimension.

We, the writers of the blog, are Ana, Noora, Percy, and Tábata, a group of Communication for Development master’s students passionate about exploring how communication can drive positive change in the world. Through this blog, we aim to share our insights, experiences, and reflections as we dive into the complexities of development communication. Whether you’re a fellow student, a development professional, or just curious about the field, we hope you’ll find our posts thought-provoking and inspiring.

This blog will look into the limitations and risks of digital activism such as inequality in online activism and the rise of fake content in digital channels. Tábata will investigate disparities in access to technology, participation in digital activism, and the inclusion and exclusion within online movements, examining how activists are addressing these challenges.

IDA-blog will also take a closer look at different formats of digital activism. Percy is going to explore how digital activism meets creativity – ‘Digital Artivism’? How do artists measure the impact of digital formats and available data collection tools? What are the recent projects and discussions of the challenges that artists face? Ana will dive into the world of protest music – and music with political messages. Music has long traditions as a tool in social movements – what is its role in the digital era? Many movements and protests live both in real and digital life. Noora will explore how real-life protests, street demonstrations and occupations are connected to digital activism.

Stay tuned for the following posts! It would be great if you would drop a comment or question: what is the phenomenon that we should explore or a theory that you would like to know more about?