DIGITAL activism plays a pivotal role in advancing social justice movements, particularly in the African context, an expert has said.
Speaking in Harare at the recently held Hub Uncoference, hosted under the Shoko Festival banner, South Africa-based Zimbabwean academic Millie Phiri emphasized the transformative power of social media platforms in mobilizing citizens and amplifying marginalized voices.
The 10th edition of the Hub Unconference, held under the theme Level Up, focused on empowering the youth and leveraging on technology for social good.
Phiri cited the numerous grassroots movements that have emerged in recent years, such as the "flag movement" and the "reject finance bill" campaign in Kenya, which successfully leveraged social media to raise awareness and demand change in governance.
“Social media has really opened up the gate for social justice movements in the past couple of years and just over time really.
“Those are all hashtags on social media that have worked because social media and digital media work to move audiences to share messages,” Phiri said.
However, she also cautioned against the potential risks associated with online activism, including the exposure of personal information and the threat of surveillance.
The increasing prevalence of digital platforms has undoubtedly reshaped the landscape of social justice activism. Individuals and organizations can now reach global audiences with minimal effort, fostering greater connectivity and collaboration. However, the challenges faced by digital activists are multifaceted.
- Digital activism key to African social justice
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One significant concern is the potential for online harassment and intimidation, which can discourage individuals from speaking out.
“Also it has its own deficit in that when you're sharing all these things you're using maybe your personal accounts so your information is out there for everyone to see so you have to find the balance between sharing the content that you want to share but also staying safe online,” said Phiri. The Cyber and Data Protection Act in Zimbabwe offers some degree of protection to citizens in the digital age.
The right to rectification, for example, allows individuals to correct inaccurate or outdated information held by organizations. However, the effectiveness of these legal safeguards depends on their enforcement and the level of awareness among the public. As Phiri noted, the creative use of digital platforms can be a powerful tool for social change
