When the keyboard becomes mightier than the sword.
What comes to your mind if you hear the names of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, and others belonging to the same league? You’ll almost instantly connect these transformative figures with their tireless devotion to fighting for their noble causes - be it independence from oppressors or the demand for equality and justice in the society in which they lived as an essential component. There was no Internet back then to spread their words like fire and mobilize supporters which is very easy to do these days with the hashtag culture. Just imagine their herculean efforts to build a dedicated community from the grassroots, orchestrate strategic communication, and bring monumental societal changes. By leveraging pamphlets, flyers, TV, radio, telephone, face-to-face interaction, and other ways, they overpowered several constraints (communication, resource, geographical, etc.) with their remarkable determination despite knowing the slower response time. They couldn’t ask people to sign online petitions, and a crowdfunding campaign was never an option, yet with perfect planning and coordination, they stirred a mass movement to change the course of history. Their enduring legacy has become a radiant source of inspiration for worldwide activists who can now easily reach broader audiences with the widespread use of the Internet.
In 1998, the website Bongo Doit Partir (Bongo Must Go) was launched by a New Jersey-based Gabonese activist and scholar Dr. Daniel Mengara to uproot the regime of Omar Bongo, the second president and the chief of the single-party regime of the Gabonese Democratic Party. The intention of his exiled movement, through the website, was to encourage the people of Gabon (a country in West Central Africa) to revolt against one of the wealthiest dictators in Africa who turned the entire nation into his private estate. Before succumbing to cancer in 2009, he had already served as the president for almost 42 years by constantly manipulating the constitution and judiciary for his personal gains. After his death, his son, Ali Bongo, succeeded the post as a dynast politician with the same agenda of rampant loot and corruption. Eventually, the 56-year-long rule of the Bongo dynasty came to an end on August 30, 2023, with a coup d'état launched by the Armed Forces of Gabon.
However, Dr. Mengara started his activism in the early days of the Internet but, the phenomenon of online activism had begun much earlier with the controversial ‘Lotus Marketplace’ database program. Launched by IBM’s subsidiary Lotus Development Corporation and Equifax Inc. on April 10, 1990, this infamous program contained information about 7 million businesses, 120 million people, and 120 million households who had purchased various goods offering their personal information. The collected data - name, age, address, gender, telephone number, and other demographic information - was supposed to be released on compact disks. Concerned about privacy issues as human-as-a-product were out for sale to unknown customers, many people started protesting using Usenet newsgroup citing data security and online privacy. As the backlash intensified with discussions of netizens on electronic bulletin boards, initiation of mass e-mail campaigns, and more than 30,000 requests directly to Lotus for the removal of personal information, this infamous program was finally called off on January 23, 1991. The triumph of online communities that displayed tremendous teamwork for raising awareness in the digital realm is one the most significant cases in the history of online activism.
With the adoption of the Internet on a large scale, activism has now become more visible and impactful while connecting people who share the same goals of change. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, etc. are the most popular rallying points that are really helpful in spreading the message through video, audio, text, and other relevant formats. From corporate and religious activism to socio-political and environmental activism, digital-age activists have compelled the power holders to take necessary actions in various fields and sectors. You may need to look at some of the cases that stirred the landscape of the Internet with roaring voices:
Raif bin Muhammad Badawi, a Saudi activist, started the website Free Saudi Liberals in 2008 challenging the religious orthodoxy and the oppression of liberals in his country. His advocacy for progressive values in a country where secularism and religious freedom were deplorable, drew the Saudi government's attention, leading to his imprisonment in 2012. For insulting Islam and being critical of the government on his website where thousands of liberals were active participants, he was subjected to a brutal punishment of seven years in prison and 600 lashes in 2013. Next year, in 2014, his sentence was increased to ten years of imprisonment, 1000 lashes, and a fine of 1 million Saudi riyals. His wife, Ensaf Haidar, moved to Canada soon after her husband’s arrest and founded the ‘Raif Badawi Foundation for Freedom’, a movement that campaigns for Raif’s freedom as well as human rights condition in the Arab world. Though his website was shut down by the Saudi government, Raif gained tremendous support from people worldwide and emerged as an international symbol of hope and resilience who sacrificed his personal life for freedom of expression and other fundamental rights in a country where such things have no value. His wife and supporters have leveraged the Internet through social media campaigns, online petitions, blogs, live streaming discussions, and other digital ways for his release.
George Perry Floyd Jr., an African-American truck driver was apprehended by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25, 2020, for using a counterfeit $20 bill at a grocery store. The cop, Derek Chauvin, made him lie face down in the street while pressing his knee to Floyd’s neck for 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Soon he became motionless and died on the spot due to asphyxia. The entire event of police brutality was recorded by a bystander, Darnella Frazier, who uploaded the video at 1:46 AM on May 26, on her Facebook profile which spread on the Internet like wildfire. On the same day, Kellen S, a 15-year-old girl started an online petition ‘Justice for George Floyd’ on change.org which went on to become the most signed online petition in the world with more than 19.6 million signatures. When Floyd’s brother, Philonise, started a campaign on GoFundMe to support his family, it broke the website’s record by amassing $13 million and becoming the highest-funded individual project. The live streaming of Floyd’s dying moments was widely shared on different social media platforms evoking emotions in activists and catalyzing protests and rallies in the different corners of the world for racial justice. With trending hashtags like #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd and #BlackLivesMatter people started sharing information and discussions on similar issues happening across the borders. This case highlights the power of live streaming in holding authorities accountable and raising awareness against police violence.
Tarana Burke, an American activist from New York City, coined the phrase “Me Too” in 2006, on the popular social media platform MySpace to support women who were sexually abused. Her first priority was to let the survivors of sexual harassment know they weren't alone and that there was a community where they could share their stories and get support. On October 5, 2017, The New York Times published an article narrating the allegations of sexual misconduct by renowned Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The MeToo movement gained significant popularity on October 15, 2017, when an American actress, Alyssa Milano, posted a tweet that read: "If you've been sexually harassed or assaulted write 'me too' as a reply to this tweet.” Soon after, many survivors from different parts of the world, belonging to different industries and areas of work, joined the wave of solidarity and started sharing their stories on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and other popular social media platforms. Along with #MeToo, hashtags like #NotOkay, #TimesUp, #WhyIDidntReport, #BelieveSurvivors, etc. started floating on the Internet. Activists and survivors used live streaming to organize online awareness events to reach a broader audience in real time and with monumental mobilization they were successful in bringing high-profile individuals to their knees.
On February 14, 2018, Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Florida, United States, entered his school with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle and started firing indiscriminately which resulted in the killing of 14 students and three staff members. Four days after the Parkland shooting, some survivors of the horrific incident launched the March For Our Lives (MOFL) campaign demanding gun control reforms to prevent further mass shootings. On March 24, 2018, demonstrators organized a huge rally in Washington, D.C. with an estimated turnout of 2 million people, which was supported by famous celebrities such as George Clooney, Oprah Winfrey, Scooter Braun, etc. The movement gained global solidarity after the live streaming of press conferences, rallies, town hall meetings, and other key events. Students and parents from many countries including Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, Canada, Japan, etc., organized rallies in their localities making it a global movement. The compelling storytelling by survivors with viral hashtags like #MarchForOurLives, #EnoughIsEnough, and #NeverAgain on different social media platforms emphasized the issue of gun violence and helped them amplify their voices.
Ever since Hosni Mubarak, the President of Egypt, came to power in 1981, the country has faced economic challenges, police brutality, low wages, corruption, soaring food prices, a high unemployment rate, and other issues that aggravated public discontent. On January 25, 2011 (The Day of Rage), the Egyptian population gathered in millions in Cairo’s Tahrir Square demanding political reforms and freedom from corruption. The revolution which was heavily influenced by social media drew the attention of international media houses and human rights organizations. The authoritarian Mubarak government responded to these demonstrations by deploying riot police and even the military to silence the protestors which resulted in the deaths of thousands of revolutionaries. However, with an unwavering commitment to bring change in their country, protestors made the Internet a lethal weapon by sharing news, images, and video footage of protests and clashes on various social media platforms. They used Facebook to create event pages and send out invitations to the people to join the ongoing demonstrations. They strategically used Twitter to organize events and disseminate details on the locations and logistics of protests outmaneuvering the state-controlled media that was working as a propaganda machine. Eventually, President Hosni Mubarak announced his resignation on February 11, after 18 days of protracted demonstrations and increasing pressure. With promises of a transitional period leading to democratic elections, the Egyptian military seized power.
The real-time advocacy which is possible only through live streaming plays a crucial role in evoking human emotion and building relationships that can help activists mobilize the required support and volunteer recruitment. Imagine a MeToo activist narrating her workplace ordeal with a genuine facial expression and tone of voice. The intentions and emotions she conveys in the live discussion can generate immediate responses from audiences who have witnessed a similar situation at any point in their life. Be it animal rights activists, LGBTQ+ rights activists, indigenous rights activists, or religious or science activists, everyone has leveraged live streaming as an indispensable tool to highlight their issues with a personal perspective. Participants feel more connected to a sensitive issue when in-depth conversations happen without advertisement breaks and other distractions commonly practiced by traditional media houses.
No doubt, the Internet is the most useful tool when it comes to raising awareness beyond the physical boundaries. Within the digital realm, activists can strategically utilize live streaming to maximize the impact of their cause. Let’s have a brief look at the benefits of live streaming that activists can get in their advocacy efforts to bring desired changes:
Live streaming allows activists to join with audiences almost instantly. There is nothing artificial or scripted between both parties (activists and audiences) and it’s a key factor in making the conversation more engaging and overall an interactive experience. Audiences feel more connected as they collaborate and exchange ideas in real-time.
Multistream is an effective component of live streaming where activists can broadcast their message simultaneously on different social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, etc. With the same time and effort, they can tap into global audiences who in turn can amplify their voices with increased chances of shareability.
When activists broadcast unfiltered protests and events as everything happens in real-time, it immediately creates a sense of authenticity and transparency. The live stream which is free of misinformation and manipulation helps build trust with audiences who can start following activists regularly as a credible source of information in the time of need.
Online activists can respond quickly to comments and questions from audiences seeking live updates on events and emergency situations as they unfold. With state-of-the-art audience interaction functionality provided by live streaming software, an activist can reply to incoming comments from different platforms using a single interface. Responding to inquiries on the spot creates a friendly networking zone.
Activists can invite guests and experts who have a stronghold on sensitive issues that need detailed information for educational purposes. These experts can be interviewed live or the host (activist) can organize a Q&A session between invitees and audiences for in-depth analysis and meaningful conversation around a pressing issue. When audiences come across fresh perspectives and pieces of information, it immediately increases the value of an activist’s live streaming channel.
There might be many audiences in different parts of the world who can’t join the live stream due to time zone issues. In this case, activists can record their live streaming session and share it on their social media platforms before editing with relevant captions, graphics, background effects, and other elements to make it look more impactful. This process increases the lifespan, accessibility, and promotion of the message.
Money matters the most if activists have to sustain and advance their revolutionary cause. They can ask for donations and funds required to cover the expenses of legal representatives, protest marches, printing materials, and other essential needs to maintain the momentum. Audiences, who are genuinely and emotionally connected with the cause, are more likely to support it financially as they share the same goals and passions of activists.
The ultimate goal of activists is to bring the reforms and changes they desire. This is possible only if they mobilize support by reaching a maximum number of audiences who actively support the cause. If their live streams have been successful in engaging audiences on the Internet, there are high chances of being covered by traditional media outlets who keep chasing such stories. With extensive media coverage, activists can generate public opinion in their favor with a noticeable pressure on the decision-makers.
There is no necessity for activists to have technical expertise while using live streaming software. Instead of downloading traditional software that requires intense machines and a lot of skills, activists can simply use Yostream, a browser-based live streaming software. They just need a stable internet connection to go live with custom branding features to make their message look professional. They can add relevant logos, banners, backgrounds, overlays, audio, and video that resonate with their cause and add an emotional angle to the live stream. Without wasting time, they can multistream to various platforms for a broader audience reach that can surely help in mobilizing support. To make their message even more impactful and cohesive, they can add guests to their live stream for unique inputs that can’t be generally found on mainstream news media channels.