Digital Dissenter

Last week’s post looked at the problem with petitions as a form of digital activism. The issue of perpetuating an ethos of ‘slacktivism’ or armchair activism has come up many times, and so far the picture painted of online activism has been somewhat grim. Surely there are ways in which the online platform can be harnessed successfully to drive social change?

Care2 is one activist website which seems to have the right idea. Founder and CEO of Care2, Randy Paynter, staunchly defends the efficacy of online petitions in particular. Following the spread of email petitions in the late 90’s, Paynter started thePetitionSite.com in 2000 as a way to better channel all the energy and good intentions that were being lost in cyberspace. The website functions as a central repository for signatures with added fraud prevention and the assurance that the petitions will be delivered to the relevant authority figures. Paynter states: “We created a tool that has forced politicians, businesses and organisations large and small to face the power of their constituents”.

One of the major assumptions that underlie criticism of online petitions is that it provides a way for people to feel like they’ve done their bit for the cause without having to do anything else. On the other hand though, we must acknowledge the way in which online petitions are actually able to reach more people and gain more support than ever before. Also, perhaps in our cynicism we are simply holding on to an outdated perception of what activism is. In a digitally connected world, maybe giving your cyber-signature and getting your friends to do the same is just as good as chaining yourself to a tree (as far as activist stereotypes go). Perhaps if the face of activism is changing, there will be more people getting involved in causes than would have ever been possible without the lowering of the ‘barriers to entry’ into activism.

Not everyone is willing to get up on their soapbox with a loud hailer in front of a crowd of people to get their message across. Far more people would prefer to send a message to friends or post a link to a petition in their status messages. And of course there are people who really will just sign the petition and leave it at that – sure, they won’t be getting as involved as we may want them to, but if that’s all they’re willing to give then they should still be encouraged to give it.

The simplicity and ease of online petitions such as those found through the Care2 website, almost makes it difficult not to sign every single one of the available petitions. But now what happens after the petitions have been signed by myself (and all my Facebook friends)? Will anything actually happen?

Paynter argues that online petitions are often the catalysts that can drive real change. While it is arguable whether online petitions can be considered an accurate reflection of public opinion, the media attention that they can spark along with the ammunition that they provide for activists can fast track particular issues. Also the combined force of online petitions and social networking sites can often single out and expose the individuals or institutions the petitions are constructed against. In fact, North Korea tried to have thePetitionSite shut down following an online petition to release two US journalists who were imprisoned there.

Ultimately, when used and implemented correctly, online petitions can be a valuable resource for activists. Much like all other activist activities, a petition alone will not bring about a revolution. Just as I know I’m not going to able to get the third KFC in Grahamstown closed down by organising a single protest, the Canadian seal slaughter will not be stopped because a few hundred thousand people signed the online petition. It needs to be part of a cohesive and engaged campaign for change that is backed up by real action and follow-through. Change is the result of many steps and influences, but it always has to start somewhere.