Generations X and Y to Lead Technology- Assisted Social Activism in 2009
The campaign showed instantaneous ability to create, publish and galvanize through online means. YouTube became the medium of propaganda and information. The Barack Obama campaign's Web site showed the world how online fund-raising could be lucrative, giving individuals instant access to issues, the ability to create their own fund-raising page, blogs, connect them together in various groups, and all with constant emails. Millions were raised each month, with donations averaging less than one hundred dollars.
Other pieces on Associated Content provide some insight into why this worked so well. These generations have creativity, energy, networking capabilities, with the added bonus of enormous drive for perfection with changing social conscious. The combination of these traits provides a mass movement not seen before in other generations. Old timers may bemoan the appearance of constant flux, but when these young people grab onto something they believe in, there is instant, widespread flexible mobilizing their parents could only dream of.
I believe the internet, in articles and in areas like YouTube, particularly when combined with the growing ability of cell phones, will continue to see a rise in social activism geared toward Generations X and Y. Junk mail will be seen as fodder, giving way to emails, pod casts, instant messages and text messages. Fundraising organizations will lower their former expectations, asking individuals for less and therefore receiving more. Volunteer goals will change from long range projects with no immediate reward, to those with shorter markers and benefits for each completion. These young volunteers, if not given free reign, will be allowed a greater level of personal and individual contribution, particularly in the area of ideas, creative advertising and information dissemination.
The article, "Green Living Online: Three Communities Dedicated to the Green Cause" (http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/655375/green_living_online_three_communities.html?cat=7) shows us some possibilities. Environmental issues hold a high level of importance to these two generations combining young parents, workers and college students. Communities like those in this article become ripe for the active social conscious of generation X and generation Y. Expect to see many more of these in the next year.
It will be interesting to watch, because I believe these two generations, one which grew up learning to use computers and the other never knowing a world without them, are going to change the methods of social activism. In so doing, they will surprise a great many of us retiring baby-boomers remembering our own past visions of change.
Sources:
http://www.barackobama.com/index.php
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=abVZQZVZTUe8&refer=home
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.php?id=N00009638
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/655375/green_living_online_three_communities.html?cat=7
http://usliberals.about.com/od/electionreform/ig/Democratic-2008-Fundraising/Obama-Fundraising-Stats.htm
Published by Charlene S Noto
Currently resides with her husband and two labs, Max and Molly, in the US Pacific NW. Enjoying both her writing and her quilting, she is learning to live creatively with Multiple Sclerosis. View profile
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5 Comments
Post a CommentThank you all for your comments. I don't neccesarily disagree with you, E.T. Smith. I am glad you mentioned "limited attention span" because that is one of the keys and one of the reasons many of these methods are successful. I do believe dialogue is possible as long as there is enough interaction and short term projects to keep them all interested in the long term goal. Their social conscious is on your side because I do believe they actually want to do something good in the world.
You describe a future in which the "ME! ME!" generations will spend their very limited attention span
on quick fix projects. I think we of the older generations should be concerned that without a moral
compass the focus of the YouTube MySpace people will not be on what's good for society but
what feels good for the moment. Is it too late to engage the younger adults in meaningful dialogue?
Perhaps, but some of us are trying through church, community outreach, and personal example.
A very astute analysis. Great topic!
Interesting... I like your point about the generations - I'm 37 so I do belong to one of them - I remember being told by someone of the younger generation that I was too old for the internet. I told her, "Honey, my generation perfected the internet; your generation ruined it." It will be interesting to watch, as you say.
Great insight into the future Char. Kinda made me feel old though :-) 5 Stars for you!