#3 major essay. Is Social Media Activism Effective?

SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM
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Is Social Media Activism Effective?
In the last decade, technology has revolutionized our world and redefined how we communicate and share information. In the last decade, smartphones penetration and social media utility reached unprecedented levels. Placing the power of a smartphone in the hands of the masses and providing a platform to share their opinions has birthed activism on the cyberspace. However, though the efficacy of social media activism has been widely debated, it has become the most effective tool today.
CITATION Mal101 \l 1033 (Gladwell, 2010) argues that social media activism lacks the passion and motivation to mobilize people to take the necessary steps to push for a change. He argues that the ties that exist in the cyberspace and especially the social media are too weak to unite people for a meaningful cause.
Source: CITATION Zac16 \l 1033 (Paste Magazine , 2016)
He points out the examples of how the Civil Rights Movement was organized and cites that social media activism lacks the deep-seated uniting factor that can compel authorities to effect the desired change. He claims social media activism lacks this element and it is ‘noise’ whose efficacy is limited. CITATION Mal101 \l 1033 (Gladwell, 2010) cites the Greensboro sit-ins which were initiated by four black students in the Woolworth’s lunch counter and why it was an effective strategy against the government to abolish the racially discriminative laws against the blacks. He shows that the new tool of activism cannot mount enough pressure that can bring change against established institutions and or the government. Gladwell believes that social media allows activists to express themselves, but it is hard for that expression to have any impact.
Conversely, Cohen has vehemently defended the efficacy of the social media activism CITATION Sha18 \l 1033 (Cohen, 2018). She has detailed some of the instances where social media activism has borne fruit. The scholar points out that the modern world has changed and the manner of sensitizing the public has changed. She also suggests that the modern world activism is not spearheaded by one person, but by a decentralized system in which everyone takes part and pushes for a common goal. Traditional activism had a central figure who dictated the direction of their course and the efficacy of such movements were limited to the vision and the strategy of the leaders. In the modern times, the system is different, and the people rally behind a course and use the social media platforms to share information. It has become more effective because demonstrations are organized in an instance, rather than the traditional system which required meticulous and lengthy planning. She also points out because of the nature of the activism, it cannot be credited or pegged on a single individual and therefore it almost uncontainable. Cohen thinks that it mounts significant pressure on the organizations, institutio...