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Digital Tools in Immigrant Activism

The document summarizes an article that explores the role of digital communication tools in immigrant activism. It discusses a study conducted in Austin, Texas using focus groups and interviews with immigrant workers and organizations. The study found that digital tools were effective for raising awareness but not motivating offline activism. It also found a "digital divide" between more tech-savvy and less tech-savvy immigrants. While digital tools could publicize issues, the study concluded they have limitations and may dilute real activism. It recommended further research with more participants to gain wider perspectives on how digital tools influence activism.

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179 views3 pages

Digital Tools in Immigrant Activism

The document summarizes an article that explores the role of digital communication tools in immigrant activism. It discusses a study conducted in Austin, Texas using focus groups and interviews with immigrant workers and organizations. The study found that digital tools were effective for raising awareness but not motivating offline activism. It also found a "digital divide" between more tech-savvy and less tech-savvy immigrants. While digital tools could publicize issues, the study concluded they have limitations and may dilute real activism. It recommended further research with more participants to gain wider perspectives on how digital tools influence activism.

Uploaded by

mukul
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
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Running head: WILL THE REVOLUTION BE TWEETED OR FACEBOOKED?

Will the Revolution be Tweeted or Facebooked?

Nwaeke Isioma

Royal Roads University

May 27, 2019

Author’s Note

This paper was written by Nwaeke Isioma for PMAS095 taught by Marianne Kettlewell.
WILL THE REVOLUTION BE TWEETED OR FACEBOOKED? 2

Will the Revolution be Tweeted or Facebooked? Using Digital Communication Tools in

Immigrant Activism

In the article, “Will the Revolution be Tweeted or Facebooked?’’, Summer Harlow & Lei

Guo (2014) tried to explore the role of digital communication tools in immigrant activism. They

conducted research in Austin, Texas, using focus groups and open-ended response questions

because they wanted various views on how these tools were changing perspectives about online

activism, and how those immigrants without access to technology would participate in activism.

These participants worked with immigrant organizations in Austin, Texas. According to Harlow

& Guo (2014) this study offers clues on how digital media might be transforming the definition

of “activists” and the future of activism. Harlow & Guo (2014) discovered that these immigrant

workers used these digital communication tools based on the message and the target audience. It

was concluded that these tools were efficient in creating awareness and communicating with

other potential activists, and not capable of motivating people to participate in offline activism,

thereby diluting real activism. The non-technology savvy communities are handicapped in using

these digital tools which caused a “digital divide” between the technology savvy and non-

technology savvy, however, some participants hoped that the gap will be narrowed because the

younger generations of immigrants are learning how to use these digital tools and will be able to

represent their communities online. In conclusion, this study limits the use of the internet in

bringing about true social change. Harlow & Guo (2014) recommended that though this study

employed a qualitative method of research, further research should include additional focus

groups with more participants to further explore wider perspectives of how these tools were

changing the cause for activism.


WILL THE REVOLUTION BE TWEETED OR FACEBOOKED? 3

References

Harlow, S., & Guo, L. (2014). Will the revolution be tweeted or Facebooked? Using digital

communication tools in immigrant activism. Journal of Computer-Mediated

Communication, 19(3), 463-478. doi:10.1111/jcc4.12062

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