Activism might sound like a bit of a scary word. It really isn't. It is about making a change to something you care deeply about, either to make it better, stop it from happening or improve it in some way. There are ways to do this online and in ways that are accessible to most people, and easy to achieve in small ways. These are just a few suggestions about my own experiences and knowledge, but there are other opinions and resources about digital activism!
Know your subject
The key thing I have found about activism is that the more interest I have in the subject the better I find the experience. This could either be through personal experience or from learning about something on the news. There is little point in trying to cover absolutely everything, if everyone focuses on the one thing they are passionate about then more things can be covered and more things can change. Not only that, there will be others out there you can probably find doing similar things to you.
You may think you know everything about a subject, but there is always more to learn. I have signed up to google alerts on a few different topics for different reasons. I find it a useful resource to keep up to date on my favourite topics, and it is a good way to do it as its so easy and automatic:
https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/4815696?hl=en
It is really important to understand all sides and elements of a subject, even those you disagree with, so you can then know what arguments against your position you may encounter.
Doing something!
Mainstream media
The biggest benefit of signing up for the alerts with google is that you can then start to engage with the media articles you find, either through using the comment sections below, or by writing letters to the organisation. You may think this is a pointless exercise but it can be really useful, especially if someone relevant and important reads your words. You may be able to contribute something different or unique based on your own experiences and knowledge. The important things are:
stay polite, stick to facts or experiences (and back them up), don't share confidential information or reveal too much about yourself.
Government
Get involved with voting and elections! You may not feel it makes a difference, but it is really important to have a voice within the democratic processes in this country! You can sign up for postal voting, and in some areas are able to vote online.
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote
If you don't know much about your MP, or local council etc. then this website is amazing!
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/
You can sign up for topic alerts, interact with your local MP and even use the write to them service! https://www.writetothem.com/
Writing to your MP can be a really important step in making your voice heard and making a difference. It lets them know that people who voted for them, and those who they represent care about specific issues. They can bring these up in parliament, get involved in policy and law changes and provide you with feedback on specific issues. It is their job to do this.
Signing petitions
This is the official UK government petitions website. You can search for topics and petitions here, and make your own too. You have to register to do this, but its worth it as all petitions over a certain amount have to be acknowledged by parliament.
https://petition.parliament.uk/
There are other petition sites such as change.org that anyone can get involved with too. https://www.change.org/
Social media and blogging
Social media and blogging can be a very challenging environment to be in. As there are less rules within these spaces it does come with a warning. However, when it comes to digital activism and making your voice heard, it comes with an enormous benefit too. Citizen journalism, as it can sometimes be called, is all about how people are now in direct control of sharing news and relevant information amongst themselves. There is no longer a need to involve a third party. Anyone can start a blog, like this one, and write information on there, the same with social media accounts.
There are loads of different websites with lots of different ways to interact, so its possible to find the right fit for you and your needs. Being a good digital activist on social media is about being consistent in your message, staying polite, providing facts and opinions clearly and creating a space for open and honest debates, if you chose too. If you want to simply use a blog or a social media account as a way of sharing facts on the topic your passionate about then this is also a good option, keeping people informed can go a long way in making changes.
Charity and social justice organisations
These can be a useful source of both information and support for digital activists. They may have their own campaigns and actions that you can get involved with. Grass roots activism is usually found within social media, searching for your topic as a group or tag and searching around the term can bring these organisations up. Do your own research into these groups and make sure they fit within your own personal ethos and morals, and are safe places for you to engage with.
To end
This is just a small taste of things you can do to become a digital activist. Hopefully by taking these steps you can start to feel you are making a difference. The main thing is to keep safe and do only what you feel able to and are capable of. Small actions by lots of people can make a big difference and get noticed by the right people. The other important thing is to ensure you are safe on the internet whilst doing this, again, search for safety tips on general internet use and on specific sites. Most big sites have safety guides and provide support if you find any problems.
I hope this is useful and can help you start your journey into digital activism!
