Politisk aktivism och Internet
En studie i hur Internet förändrar aktivism
The integration of the Internet in our society has shaped alot of the things we do in our lives. The Web allows us to achieve certain things directly through our computers, such as reading the paper and paying our bills. But this integration has also lead to another interesting change. Activists have begun to unload their operations onto the Net instead of holding on to the more traditional demonstrations performed in squares. This study aims to look into the world of cyberactivism and examine how cyberactivists experience the way activism has changed as a result of using the Internet. The study is based on interviews with four cyberactivists operating in various fields. It points to a change in activism, not in its core or message, but in the way activism is engaged. Based on the interviews, three common categories can be found: dissemination of information, communication and new dimension. These categories show that with the use of the Internet, information dissemination, communication and acting independently of time and space has been made easier. Putting this aside, new challenges have also arisen concerning ownership of the message, uncontrolled communication and a larger distance to the activism itself. However, there is no doubt that the Internet has played a huge role in how activism is conducted today.