This study aims to explore how the Danish grassroots movement #hvorerderenvoksen is shaped through the usage of Facebook as their primary communication tool. Using the embedded case study method, this thesis describes in detail how and why the movement arose and explains the role of Facebook’s features, primarily groups and sites, for the movements external communication. As such, it will become clear that using Facebook is not merely a means to an end. Being an activist on Facebook means using and being used, it entails the acceleration of mobilisation, but also disciplining activist action in accordance with Facebook’s terms and conditions. This thesis will draw upon modern communication theories such as mediatization and network media logic and analyse #hvorerderenvoksen as a digital social phenomenon. As will become clear, digitalisation and even more so datafication processes play a role when critically examining contemporary activism. To sum up, this thesis aims to show how an activist movement is mediatized and strongly emphasizes the role of digitalization and media hybridity in this process. It suggests that future research will focus more on the influence datafication, and especially the collection of human data and its untransparent processing, has on mediatized activism.

In this article, we explore the Black Lives Matter activist Alicia Garza's Twitter usage during the month of June in 2020 with a critical discourse analysis (CDA). Our aim with the study was to examine the underlying motives and values in Garzas tweeting, and if there were any prevailing themes, in order to see if there was a difference between the discourse used for personal matters and the discourse related to her activism. To support our analysis we utilized critical theory to gain a critical reference and the two-step flow hypothesis to delve into the possible effects Garza's position as an opinion leader has on her tweeting. After processing and examining a total of 48 tweets from the month of June, through the use of coding, our analysis suggests that there are several prevalent themes that can be distinguished in her tweeting. The themes we found were personal tweets, tweets expressing solidarity, tweets urging for action, tweets exuding authority, and promotional tweets. The line between personal matters and the discourse related to her activism was found to be fluid and unable to be strictly defined.

The aim of this thesis is to investigate how digital activism is conducted on Twitter, particularly in relation to the dialogues and demands for Europe’s green economic recovery plan from COVID-19. It seeks to analyse the communication made using #GreenRecovery on Twitter by various actors over the period of May to June 2020, guided by the theory of public sphere and social movement and literature on digital activism, hashtag activism, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Corporate Political Activity (CPA) using a qualitative and quantitative content analysis.By analysing the frequency patterns of tweets and by uncovering the different types of communication, this paper sheds light on the users involved as well as the issue frames and mobilisation strategies that were visible in the #GreenRecovery discourse . Results of this study demonstrate that #GreenRecovery is used by varying actors on Twitter such as individuals, social movements, businesses and others. Furthermore, the hashtag has been used to raise awareness, communicate particular information, mobilize action and also employ assertion as dominant digital spectator activity. Tweets with #GreenRecovery was primarily framed towards the need for a redesign of the economy, indicating demands for changes in policies by targeting accounts of political actors from the EU Commission. It is further implied that during the discourse, #GreenRecovery acted as a structural signifier as a response to the leaked proposal of the Recovery Plan demonstrating that it has the potential to create hashtag communities.

Digital activism means using information systems to pursue political issues. Previous research on digital activism tends to focus on one platform at a time, which has been criticized due to the silo-effect it can lead to. Despite the critique a lack of scientific studies have been identified regarding a multi-platform approach to digital activism. Therefore the purpose of this study was to examine how multiple platforms are used by a single social movement organization when engaging in digital activism. A qualitative study was conducted by gathering and analysing content published during the course of one month from the accounts belonging to Black Lives Matter Sweden on the social media platforms Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. The study applies a multi-platform perspective as well as a sociological framing theory to study how multiple platforms are used by examining how content is being presented across the different platforms.  The results of this study indicate the use of primary and secondary platforms where content is presented differently. Furthermore, the findings show that the secondary platform acts like a net, builds relationships as well as refers bystanders to the primary platform. Although digital activism does not necessarily require a lot of financial resources, the results of this study shows that there may be a greater need for resources in the form of manpower and time to conduct digital activism on multiple platforms simultaneously. / Digital aktivism innebär användandet av informationssystem för att driva politiska frågor. Tidigare studier av digital aktivism har fokuserat på en plattform i taget, något som har kritiserats för den silo-effekt det kan innebära. Trots detta finns en brist på forskning gällande hur en organisation använder multipla plattformar för att bedriva digital aktivism. Syftet med denna studie var därför att utöka förståelsen för hur multipla plattformar används av en organisation i arbetet med digital aktivism. En kvalitativ studie utfördes genom att samla in och analysera inlägg publicerade under en månads tid från konton tillhörande Black Lives Matter Sweden på de sociala medieplattformarna Facebook, Instagram och Twitter. Studien tillämpar ett multiplattformsperspektiv i kombination med ett framingramverk som teoretisk lins för att utvärdera hur multipla plattformar används genom att studera hur innehåll presenteras på de olika plattformarna.  Resultatet indikerade förekomsten av primära och sekundära plattformar som användes för att presentera och hantera ämnen på olika sätt. Vidare visar resultatet att den sekundära plattformen agerar fångstnät, bygger relationer och slussa åskådare vidare till den primära plattformen. Trots att digital aktivism inte nödvändigtvis kräver finansiella resurser så visar denna studie att det kan finnas ett större behov av resurser i form av arbetskraft och tid för att bedriva digital aktivism på multipla plattformar samtidigt.

The struggle to end violence against women and girls has long been a priority topic for women’s and feminist movements in Latin America. Lately, since the changes in the new media landscape (Castells 2015; Lievrouw, 2013) with the increased use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, the way women and feminist movements advocate their intentions are changing (Harcourt, 2013; Mathos, 2017). Departing from this reality, the aim is to investigate the role the use of social media activism played for the recent feminist movement, Ni Una Menos (NUM [Not One Less]), in Argentina and Chile while advocating for the end of violence against women. Taking a cross disciplinary approach this research combines theories from the fields of feminist studies, social movement and communication sciences. Through in-depth interviews with core activists from NUM both in Argentina and Chile as research method, it has been possible to identify the role of certain social media platforms for NUM’s tactical repertoire in their strive to advocate for the end of violence against women and girls. The findings also demonstrate the activism on social media platforms by the NUM movement has played an important role to set the topic on the public agenda in these countries, resulting in a generally greater awareness. Regardless off the role social media activism played, the importance seems to lie in a combination of activism on social media and the streets for feminist movements advocating to end violence against women because it assures a broad reach to all people in society. Nevertheless, to end violence against women in these countries much more effort is needed by society at large.

Denna studie undersöker Instagrams roll i klimatfrågan och hur dess funktioner fungerar för att sprida information om klimatkrisen bland generation Z. Studien fokuserar på detta begränsade ämnesområde eftersom det är en av vår tids viktigaste frågor. Rapporten undersöker hur unga människor upplever, tar emot och interagerar med klimatrelaterat innehåll på Instagram. Det har även undersökts hur interaktion med innehållet påverkar möjligheten att åstadkomma förändring utanför plattformen. Studien utfördes genom att ta del av tidigare forskning samt utföra en kvantitativ enkätundersökning och en kvalitativ fokusgruppintervju. Vår slutsats är att även om det finns utmaningar med att använda Instagram som en plattform för klimataktivism, finns det också stora möjligheter. Genom att presentera klimatrelaterat innehåll på ett tillgängligt och relaterbart sätt kan Instagram spela en ännu viktigare roll i att öka medvetenheten om klimatkrisen och främja större kollektiv handling. För att uppmuntra engagemang bland generation Z föreslår studien även att Instagram fortsätter utveckla sina funktioner för att göra det lättare för användare att hitta och dela klimatrelaterat innehåll, samt förbättra hanteringen av källor och information. / This study examines Instagram's role in the climate crisis and how its features work to spread information about the climate crisis among generation Z. The study focuses on this limited area because it is one of the most important issues of our time. The report investigates how young people experience, receive, and interact with climate-related content on Instagram. It has also been examined how interaction with the content affects the ability to achieve real change. The study was conducted by reviewing previous research and conducting a quantitative survey study and a qualitative focus group interview. Our conclusion is that although there are challenges in using Instagram as a platform for climate activism, there are also great opportunities. By presenting climate-related content in an accessible and relatable way, Instagram can play an important role in raising awareness about the climate crisis and promoting collective action. To encourage engagement among generation Z, the study also suggests that Instagram continues to develop its features to make it easier for users to discover and share climate-related content, as well as improve source and information management.

This study has examined the implications of the internet for the IPOB movement, focusing on the extent to which it has empowered the movement to engage in collective action mobilisation, enhance identity construction, framing and discourses for an independent Biafran state against multiple forms of state repressions. The thesis adopted a flexible approach that incorporated three level analysis including a macro-level analysis, which looked at the socio political and institutional environment; a meso-level, which examined the organisational infrastructure; and a micro-level exploring how the social movement made sense of their reality. The thesis addresses the debate between technology and society, and between the agency and political opportunity structures in Nigeria. It discussed the radical and agnostic democratic potential of the internet for African social movements and the dialectic between Biafra activism and the socio-political rootedness of Nigerian democracy. This approach allowed for providing analogies and new perspectives from the research and interpreting implications of human action. The thesis has found inconsistent, sometimes contradicting, data on the implication of internet technology for the IPOB movement. While there is some clear and robust evidence suggesting that new media technology has enhanced the movement's capabilities to organise, coordinate and mobilise for Biafran cause on many levels. The study reveals some severe limitations in the appropriation of internet technology in IPOB’s collective action objectives. The implication of the findings is discussed.

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This thesis explores how online gaming has become a central tool for networked social movements to participate in consumer activism. I look at the case study of MapleStory: a Korean MMORPG game and their consumer activism efforts started by the players. Migrating from different social media channels to organize, coordinate and strategize ways to create change within their group, through using consumeractivism techniques such as boycotting, protesting and spreading information. I framed this group as an early example of a networked social movements and analyzed their usage of social groups to spread activism messages. Through the internet and new technologies members were able to find their own political voices and teach others how to protest for social change. I also concentrated on the social aspect of these communities and how they fostered social bonds through collective action and participation. I argue that online gaming has become a platform that enables consumers to protest against a company’smal practices by utilizing their positions as consumers of a product.

This study has examined the implications of the internet for the IPOB movement, focusing on the extent to which it has empowered the movement to engage in collective action mobilisation, enhance identity construction, framing and discourses for an independent Biafran state against multiple forms of state repressions. The thesis adopted a flexible approach that incorporated three level analysis including a macro-level analysis, which looked at the socio political and institutional environment; a meso-level, which examined the organisational infrastructure; and a micro-level exploring how the social movement made sense of their reality. The thesis addresses the debate between technology and society, and between the agency and political opportunity structures in Nigeria. It discussed the radical and agnostic democratic potential of the internet for African social movements and the dialectic between Biafra activism and the socio-political rootedness of Nigerian democracy. This approach allowed for providing analogies and new perspectives from the research and interpreting implications of human action. The thesis has found inconsistent, sometimes contradicting, data on the implication of internet technology for the IPOB movement. While there is some clear and robust evidence suggesting that new media technology has enhanced the movement's capabilities to organise, coordinate and mobilise for Biafran cause on many levels. The study reveals some severe limitations in the appropriation of internet technology in IPOB’s collective action objectives. The implication of the findings is discussed.