The new social activism is simply a form of organizing which favors the weak-tie connections that give us access to information over the strong-tie connections that help us persevere in the face of danger. It shifts our energies from organizations that promote strategic and disciplined activity and toward those which promote resilience and adaptability. It makes it easier for activists to express themselves, and harder for that expression to have any impact. The instruments of social media are well suited to making the existing social order more efficient. They are not a natural enemy of the status quo. If you are of the opinion that all the world needs is a little buffing around the edges, this should not trouble you. But if you think that there are still lunch counters out there that need integrating it ought to give you pause.

Very interesting article by Malcom Gladwell in The New Yorker about ‘Twitter, Facebook and social activism’ and the question if the next revolutions are really happening on and through the web, the difference between strong ties and weak ties and strategic activation vs. low-scale empathy.

Read more here.

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