Activism Is Us: An Agreement with Gladwell

“Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted”, is a beautifully written piece of innovative activism and its evolution within technology written by Malcom Gladwell. Throughout his entire piece, it drives the reader to think and question the role of technology and social media within a cause that calls for action. In Gladwell’s piece, he includes various roles in activism, most of which prove a valid reason for social media’s lack of stability and assurance within members of an activist community. This brings forward Gladwell’s quote on, “In fact, it's the kind of commitment that will bring only social acknowledgment and praise.” Which therefore insinuates that something only matters when done in the face of others for a sense of social accomplishment rather than a moral accomplishment. This “weak-ties” social media activism is in complete opposition to “strong-tied” traditional activism, in which a person joins a cause for someone they personally know and trust. This personal connection keeps a sense of obligation to the cause. In the face of “weak-tied” activists, it's always best not to ask too much then they, as half-participants, are willing to offer.

Social media is due some credit, though, where spreading information and gathering enough people to spread the word. Gladwell notes, “The Internet lets us exploit the power of these kinds of distant connections with marvelous efficiency.” This quote from Gladwell’s piece, shows the strength within “weak-tie” relationships. Within his piece, he brings up an interesting case of a bone-marrow patient in dire need of a transplant, which a coworker forwards to friends who spread the word through multiple social media platforms. Gladwell states, “Eventually, nearly twenty-five thousand new people were registered in the bone-marrow database, and Bhatia found a match.” The work of social media is truly notable and worthy of praise at how well and quickly information and important causes can be spread to a wide range of people. 

There are many positive and negative views on social media’s influence on activism, though Gladwell does a superb job of explaining how social media is a network of unreliable, “weak-tie” activists in which only low-risk activism can be accomplished. Traditional activism, on the other hand, is well adjusted within their hierarchical organization and reliability within “strong-tie” activists.