Digital activism: How social media and dissensus inform theory and practice

Ciszek, Erica

doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2016.02.002

Cited by 69 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Both the hashtag and content analyses revealed broad agreement on the role of (aviation) emissions in the climate crisis, and the semantic network revealed considerable use of emotive words. Thus, rather than being evidence of an ideological debate (Ciszek, 2016), the corpus of Twitter posts on flightshame indicated a peer networkor echo chamber (Pearce et al, 2014)of relatively likeminded people who coordinate each other using common language (see framework in Figure 1). The findings from a hashtag frequency analysis revealed that Twitter posts served to support advocacy, activism and politics, especially in the case of posts that used the word "flygskam".…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Yet, aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of GHG emissions (Becken & Pant, 2019), making it, quite simply, a highly contentious societal issue. Because social media are known to constitute a platform for ideological debate and digital activism (Ciszek, 2016), they provide a suitable source of data to examine how people exchange views (Figure 1).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Climate crisis and flying: social media analysis traces the rise of “flightshame”

Becken

Friedl

Stantić

et al. 2020

Journal of Sustainable Tourism

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Even before the global halt to extensive mobility due to the coronavirus crisis, there has been growing resistance amongst some groups to flying. Reflecting increasing concern about the imminent climate emergency, the phenomenon of feeling ashamed of flying and expressing related emotions through communication has resulted in the neologism "flygskam". Drawing on 14,212 Twitter posts that contained "flygskam" and a further 1037 using the English "flightshame", this research examined the spatial-temporal spread of these words from Sweden starting in 2016 to the rest of the world indicating a global phenomenon. The findings indicate that national context continues to be important in understanding the nexus of individual and social sensemaking and processing of new information. They also demonstrate, however, that global networks (facilitated through social media) might challenge the needs of physical mobility as requirements to connect, exchange views, and create identity through peer group membership. Further analysis of the content revealed key perspectives and topics, providing insight into the relatively homogeneous discussions amongst a network community. Only 6% of posts rejected the notion, whilst the majority indicated support and advanced suggestions for more sustainable alternatives. It might be too early to say whether language behaviour expressed in online communication translates into real behaviour, but the current pandemic may well provide further impetus to no-fly movements by way of a strategic alliance between different peer groups.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate crisis and flying: social media analysis traces the rise of “flightshame”

Becken

Friedl

Stantić

et al. 2020

Journal of Sustainable Tourism

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“…“Hey, maybe we can get Trump and his sons to go hunting with Dick Cheney.” This comment was in reference to a widely reported incident in which former Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot one of his party during a hunting trip on February 11, 2006. Previous studies highlighted the potential of social media as counter-public spaces where users “challenge dominant discourses and provide a platform for multiple competing, and often conflicting, perspectives to emerge” (Ciszek, 2016, p. 315). This process, like gatekeeping, itself, however, can be more complex than audience members merely reacting to a word or image.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drowning Out the Message: How Online Comments on News Stories About Nike’s Ad Campaign Contributed to Polarization and Gatekeeping

et al. 2020

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This study examined audience commentary on Fox News, Cable News Network, and MSNBC’s YouTube and Facebook platforms associated with news stories on Nike’s selection of controversial former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the spokesman for its 2018 campaign. The study, using the theory of gatekeeping as a starting point, sought evidence for a drowning effect, in which the audience strayed from the primary message of the journalism presented to it. Content analysis revealed a significant drowning effect across platforms and outlets.

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“…More recently, Kennedy and Sommerfeldt (2015) called for public relations scholarship that explores fostering conditions for dissensus and embracing resulting tensions, rather than privileging the ideas of consensus and compromise. Ciszek (2016) answered this call by exploring the tensions that exist between gay rights activists and Chick-fil-A’s staunch position against gay marriage, specifically how social media dissensus can provide an opportunity for listening and learning about diverse perspectives that can still inform public relations practice.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who loves consent? Social media and the culture jamming of Victoria’s Secret

Madden¹,

Janoske

Winkler

et al. 2018

Public Relations Inquiry

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This study explores responses to the culture jamming of Victoria’s Secret’s by a feminist activist organization called FORCE. Using social media, FORCE was able to troll Victoria’s Secret by masking themselves as part of the brand and community through the campaign Pink Loves Consent. This act of dissensus disguised as consensus created an entry point into conversation with followers of Victoria’s Secret, spurring an online dialogue about creating a consent-based culture. This study provides recommendations for activist organizations wanting to use social media culture jamming to create culture change.

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Digital activism: How social media and dissensus inform theory and practice

Cited by 69 publications

References 27 publications

Climate crisis and flying: social media analysis traces the rise of “flightshame”

Climate crisis and flying: social media analysis traces the rise of “flightshame”

Drowning Out the Message: How Online Comments on News Stories About Nike’s Ad Campaign Contributed to Polarization and Gatekeeping

Who loves consent? Social media and the culture jamming of Victoria’s Secret

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