Facebook and Social Media Helping Spread the Word for Occupy Wall Street

Can you imagine if Martin Luther King, Jr. was able to set up a Facebook page or Twitter account for the Million Man March? Or if he was able to post the video of his famous speech on Youtube, only to see it become a viral video with 10 million hits overnight? History books might read a little differently and the actual march might well be known today as the 5 or 10 million man march. Also, websites touting the "Virtual March" in where users can attend a rally or event virtually and pledge their support, without having to leave their desks. Technology can spread the word at an incredible rate, and now, you can grow from a few dozen supporters, to having tens of thousands of supporters worldwide.

Enter the blog and/or website www.occupytogether.org. I can't remember in recent years a movement tracking its every move with a blog. I know that the Tea Party was quick to set up websites, but to be honest, I still couldn't tell you the difference between the Tea Party and regular politicians. The technology allows for the quick expansion of the message, and provides a place for people to get information and sign up for the cause.

Virtual March Can Provide Anonymity, And Still Provide Insight Into Public Opinion

The idea of a virtual march poses a unique set of questions, and also allows for civil protest, without the need for fire hoses and getting arrested. In a very similar, and illegal fashion, the cyber group "Anonymous" is an example of a virtual protest. There are no picket lines, no face-to-face confrontations, just a large group of users who disagree with a corporation, or what have you, and shutting down company websites. I start to grow fascinated by this migration to using more technology to voice civil unrest. It seems to make sense that the average person carries around their unrest, and would never step one foot near a picket line, but from the safety of a desk or office, might feel more free to voice those opinions. The voicing of those opinions is exactly what is needed for change to occur.

The Future Of Civil Disobedience?

Thoreau most likely didn't have technology in mind when he was sitting in jail for civil disobedience. Part of the way that population can be controlled is by determining who controls the information, and who has access to that information. By limiting a movements' ability to spread their message, in effect you can kill the movement. This is the first time in the history of the world, that information can't be suppressed. It is like a leaking dam that continues to spring leaks after one leak is patched. Eventually the dam will break. As long as there is technology in place, it will be hard to keep messages like that of the protesters in the Occupy Wall Street movement from being heard.

http://occupywallst.org/

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