#hashtagactivism

Week 6: What is Digital Citizenship? Hashtag Publics, Political Engagement and Activism.

Every day, we spend hours online—scrolling through TikTok, sharing Instagram stories, commenting on posts, and joining trending conversations. But being online is more than simply consuming content. It also means becoming a digital citizen, someone who uses digital platforms responsibly, respectfully, and actively participates in online communities. Digital citizenship includes how we communicate, share information, protect others from harm, and contribute positively to society through digital spaces (Choi & Cristol, 2021). In short, our online actions reflect who we are as members of a digital society.

Social media has also changed how people engage with important issues through what scholars call hashtag publics. Hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #ClimateChange allow people around the world to connect, raise awareness, and organize discussions around social and political issues. These hashtags become digital gathering spaces where communities form around shared values and experiences. This shows how online platforms are no longer just spaces for entertainment—they are places for activism, public discussion, and collective action.

At the same time, digital citizenship is shaped by platformisation, where platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTubeinfluence what we see, what becomes viral, and how communities interact online. Algorithms, trending pages, and recommendation systems shape digital culture every day. Because of this, being a good digital citizen today means more than simply being active online—it means being critical, responsible, and aware of how digital platforms shape our choices and voices (Poell et al., 2019).

In the digital age, citizenship is no longer limited to the physical world. It now lives in our comments, shares, hashtags, and online communities. Every post, every interaction, and every digital voice contributes to the kind of online society we build.

References

Choi, M., & Cristol, D. (2021). Digital citizenship for all: Empowering young people through digital participation. Educational Technology Research and Development.

Poell, T., Nieborg, D. B., & van Dijck, J. (2019). Platformisation. Internet Policy Review, 8(4), 1–13.

Week 6: What is Digital Citizenship? Hashtag Publics, Political Engagement and Activism.

In today’s digital world, being a citizen is no longer limited to offline participation. The concept of digital citizenship refers to how individuals use online platforms responsibly, ethically, and actively to engage with society. It includes activities such as sharing information, participating in discussions, and even engaging in political movements through social media.

One important idea linked to digital citizenship is hashtag publics, which describes how people gather online around shared topics using hashtags. Platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok allow users to participate in large-scale conversations simply by using a hashtag. These hashtag publics are powerful because they enable individuals to feel part of a collective voice, even if they are geographically distant.

A strong example of this is the #BlackLivesMatter movement, which gained global attention through social media. Hashtags helped spread awareness, organise protests, and encourage discussions about racial injustice. This shows how digital platforms can transform individual opinions into collective action. Research suggests that online communities play a significant role in shaping political engagement by encouraging participation and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard (Crawford et al., 2021).

Another key aspect of digital citizenship is political engagement and activism. Today, young people especially are more likely to express their political views online rather than through traditional methods like voting or attending physical events. Social media platforms provide accessible spaces for activism, allowing users to share petitions, create content, and mobilise support quickly. However, this also raises questions about “slacktivism,” where users engage only at a surface level, such as liking or sharing posts without taking further action.

At the same time, digital activism can have real-world impact. Studies show that online fandoms and communities can mobilise quickly for causes, raising funds or spreading awareness effectively (Johnson et al., 2024). This demonstrates that digital participation is not always superficial—it can lead to meaningful change when organised effectively.

However, digital citizenship also comes with responsibilities. The spread of misinformation, online harassment, and echo chambers are major concerns. Algorithms on social media platforms often reinforce existing beliefs, limiting exposure to diverse perspectives. This can weaken constructive political discussion and increase polarisation (Li & Pang, 2024).

In my opinion, digital citizenship is about balance. While social media gives individuals the power to speak and act, it also requires critical thinking and ethical responsibility. Being a good digital citizen means not only participating but also ensuring that our actions contribute positively to online communities and society as a whole.

References

Crawford, G., Fenton, A., Chadwick, S., & Lawrence, S. (2021). ‘All Avatars Aren’t We’: Football and the experience of football-themed digital content during a global pandemic. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 57(4), 515–531. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902211021529

Li, E. C., & Pang, K. (2024b). Fandom meets artificial intelligence: Rethinking participatory culture as human–community–machine interactions. European Journal of Cultural Studies, 27(4), 778–787. https://doi.org/10.1177/13675494241236146

#JusticeForZara is the hottest activism and news in Malaysia in last year.

⚠️ Overview of the Situation

On 16 July 2025, a 13-year-old Malaysian Malay student, Zara Qairina Mahathir study at a boarding student in Papar, Sabah. She was experienced on bullying in school and was believed to have fallen from the third floor of her dormitory. Her body was unconscious found in a drain at 3:00a.m. The next day, she died at Queen Elizabeth Hospital due to severe brain injuries 💔.

Why it is Matter ❗

In past cases, Malaysia is very neglect on child abuse cases, Zara’s death captured a strong attention like few others. It exposes the failure of student safety in school 🏫.

🌐 The Community Feedback & Online Activism

The activism been organized with the slogan JusticeForZara on road street to protest in Malaysia. This rally is to demand for justice, express their feelings, and key message, such as:

🪧 “We Reject Bullying”

🪧 “Justice For Zara Qairina”

🪧 “Justice Is Not To Be Silenced”.

In online, the hashtag #️⃣JusticeForZara went viral. The community created video, photo, and music to relate the incident and participate this online activism. This hashtag has dominated in social media 📲with over 114000 posts within weeks of this incident.

The hashtag #️⃣JusticeForZara not just trending in Malaysia, it also spread across international like Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and other country. To protest, demand and express for Zara in their own countries.

🏛️⚖️Political Sides

This activism has also drawn some political leaders, including our Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, vowed a transparent and uncompromising probe, while the Minister of Education, Fadhlina Sidek, faced significant pressure and tell him to resign this profession. Moreover, other political party include PKR and Warisan, deliver impassioned speeches calling for truth, justice, and an end to violence against children. The political leaders in Sabah is largely focused on balancing public demand for justice with institutional stability.

✨ Conclusion

The #️⃣JusticeForZara movement came to the conclusion that Malaysian families can no longer choose to remain silent. Now, the country has already moved toward a zero-tolerance mentality for institutional negligence and bullying 🤝.

📚 Reference

Kumaran, R. (2025). Justice for Zara: Tragedy, outrage, and the movement shaking Sabah – MalaysiaScoop. https://malaysiascoop.com/2025/08/18/justice-for-zara-tragedy-outrage-and-the-movement-shaking-sabah/ 

Times, N. S. (2025). Netizens worldwide rally for justice for Zara Qairina. NST Online. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2025/08/1259767/netizens-worldwide-rally-justice-zara-qairina 

Mail, M. (2025). ‘Justice for Zara’ gains momentum in Labuan as thousands in black demand truth and end to bullying (VIDEO). Malay Mail. https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2025/08/10/justice-for-zara-gains-momentum-in-labuan-as-thousands-in-black-demand-truth-and-end-to-bullying-video/187132 

Online, S. (2025). Shouts of “Justice for Zara” echo as crowds rally in KL, Ipoh. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/08/16/shouts-of-039justice-for-zara039-echo-as-crowds-rally-in-kl-ipoh 

Continuing on from my previous blog post on political engagement, platform publics, ‘clicktavism’ and hashtag activism, I thought I would feature some more detail on a couple of the hashtag activism movements that were mentioned in my last post...

#HeForShe - this campaign was initiated by the United Nations in June 2014, with the main goal to achieve equality by encouraging both genders to partake as agents of change and dismantle toxic and demeaning gender stereotypes and behaviours. The campaign includes Emma Watson and Justin Trudeau as spokespeople. 

You can read more about the #HeForShe movement here: https://www.heforshe.org/en

#MeToo - Tarana Burke was the first person to use this hashtag in 2006 to ‘promote empowerment through empathy’, however the hashtag truly reached viral status in 2017 when famous Hollywood actresses began encouraging other women to share their experiences with sexual harassment and assault on Twitter. The #MeToo movement continues today, with the overall aim of significantly reducing the stigma around speaking about sexual assault and to ultimately end the violence inflicted upon women from the patriarchy. 

You can read more about the #MeToo movement here: https://metoomvmt.org/

#DressLikeAWoman - this hashtag activism movement was instigated after a report alleged that President Trump preferred women to “dress like women”. Women took to Twitter to turn this phrase on its head, posting photos of themselves wearing their interpretation of the dress code and to promote an empowering message - that women are equal to men, nothing less. 

You can read more about the #DressLikeAWoman movement here:

https://www.bustle.com/p/dress-like-a-woman-twitter-hashtag-nails-the-absurdity-of-dress-code-double-standards-35341

A core aspect of digital citizenship is political engagement, such as voting, as well as “engagement outside the election process” (Stickels 2020), including activism and campaigning. According to Luke Stickels, a campaigner, communication consultant and community organiser, a campaign can be defined as a “project of linked actions organised towards achieving a particular goal”, whether this be political, social, business or marketing (Stickels 2020). According to The Change Agency, a theory of change can “help guide campaigners, their teams and communities” (Whelan 2020). The Change Agency propose a three part format to train campaigners to clarify their theory of change and ensure it will have their desired impact on society. This strategy includes – “if” (we implement these tactics and activities), “then” (this will create change or lead to a political outcome), and “because” (some persuasive causal logic, such as why).

Due to the enormous reach afforded by social media platforms, campaigns can quickly develop online, particularly through hashtags such as #WomensMarch, #BlackLivesMatter, #BringBackOurGirls and #HeForShe. Amongst many others, these campaigns originated from hashtag activism. Brooke Foucault Welles, assistant professor of online activism, explains her perspective on hashtag activism, as where people “use hashtags in order to denote things or issues of political or personal meaning in order to gain traction in the mainstream” (SAGE publications 2019). Continuing on, Welles notes that “hashtag publics capture mainstream news attention”, which is perhaps what makes them so powerful (SAGE publications 2019). Therefore, these aforementioned examples of hashtag activism have been developed to bring people together on a global scale through the power and reach of social media networks. It’s also worth noting that the majority of these campaigns have also been promoted and backed by well-known celebrities and spokespeople in this field, including Emma Watson and Michelle Obama, which helps the campaign’s messages reach more people.

Another key aspect of digital communities relating to political engagement and activism are platform publics, which are facilitated through social media channels, including Tumblr, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. For example, writer and media expert, Luke Stickels analyses the platform publics formed on Twitter in this week’s lecture, describing the platform as a place with users create strong and defined identities, ‘hashtag battlefronts’, and accessible archives of their thoughts and opinions on various topics (Stickels 2020). Another important point Brooke Foucault Welles raised is the idea of networked counterpublics, which Welles believes “essentially fill a gap in our understanding of how people communication online (SAGE publications 2019). Therefore, the term counterpublics has been coined to describe the way that people considered on the margins of society, who aren’t necessarily included in mainstream conversations, particularly in the news and other media, can come together and form their own online communities (SAGE publications 2019). Ultimately, Welles explains, these online interactivity is intended to advance their counterpublics by “pushing them into these mainstream publics” in order to have their voices and stories heard by a wider audience.

In a similar vein to platform publics and hashtag activism, ‘clicktavism’ is another term used to describe the rise of political engagement, especially online activism. However, this terminology has been met with mixed opinions from media scholars and activists. For instance, in an interview with The Guardian, Larissa Ocampo, online community manager at ‘One Girl’ and specialist in the not-for-profit space, describes ‘clicktavism’ as a step towards activism, arguing in favour of this new movement. Ocampo explains that “the ease and convenience of online actions (clicks, likes, tweets and shares)” is an innovative and game-changing way of introducing more people to activism in ways that aren’t intimidating and are accessible for the majority of people (Banning-Lover 2014). Whereas, Micah White, the original creator of the Occupy Wall Street protests, believes ‘clicktavism’ is “fatally flawed”, reducing this new wave of activism to “meme wars” and “propagat[ing] a false theory of social change” (Banning-Lover 2014).

Therefore, it is clear that terminology relating to online activism has created polarizing perspectives on the validity and effectiveness of the increasing popularity of digital activism. However, despite these varied opinions as to the benefits and consequences of online activism, digital communities formed on these social media platforms are evidently helping pave the wave for change in society. This can be in the form of incremental or huge ways, including raising awareness, helping reduce stigma around particular issues or raising significant funds for their associated charities.

Image Credit: ‘For All Womankind’ Illustration Poster by Deva Pardue 2016.

References

Alvarez, N, Lauzon, C & Zaiontz, K 2019, ‘On sustainable tools for precarious times: An introduction’, in N Alvarez, C, Lauzon & K, Zaiontz (eds), Sustainable tools for precarious times, Palgrave Macmillian, Switzerland, pp. 1-25.

Banning-Lover, R 2014, ‘How to campaign online: 15 dos and don’ts’, The Guardian, 15 July, viewed 14 May 2020, <https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jul/15/16-dos-and-donts-of-online-campaigning-clicktivism-digital-activism-kony>.

Foucault Welles, B 2019, Researching online activism using social network analysis, SAGE Publications Ltd, London, viewed 14 May 2020, <https://methods-sagepub-com.ezproxy.lib.swin.edu.au/video/researching-online-activism-using-social-network-analysis>.

Hitchings-Hales, J & Calderwood, I 2017, ‘8 massive moments hashtag activism really, really worked’, Global Citizen, 23 August, viewed 16 May 2020, <https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/hashtag-activism-hashtag10-twitter-trends-dresslik/>.

One Girl 2020, Why girls?, One Girl, viewed 15 May 2020, <https://www.onegirl.org.au/our-impact/why-girls>.

Stickels, L 2020, ‘Week 9. Digital activism and campaigning’, MDA20009 Digital communities, Learning materials via Canvas, Swinburne University of Technology, 13 May, viewed 13 May 2020.

Whelan, J 2020, ‘Theories of change’, The Change Agency, 21 April, viewed 15 May 2020, <http://www.thechangeagency.org/theories-of-change/>.

You follow the news. You share petitions. You've subtweeted a politician. Congrats — you're participating in digital citizenship. But what does that actually mean, and why does it matter?

Week 6 broke down digital citizenship, basically how people use the internet responsibly and ethically to participate in society. It's not just about avoiding scams or not cyberbullying (though yes, those too). Suing et al. (2024) define digital citizenship as people's participation in managing their rights and civic engagements online but they also point out that definitions often clash with reality due to limited digital literacy skills and unequal access to technology. So being a digital citizen isn't as simple as just being online.

It covers six key elements: contributing positively online, political participation, activism outside elections, responsible social media use, ethical behaviour, and having the skills and access to use digital tools. In Malaysia, this is actively guided by MCMC's Klik Dengan Bijak campaign, which promotes safe and responsible internet use nationwide (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission [MCMC], 2024).

Platforms aren't neutral — that's where platformisation comes in.

Platformisation describes how digital platforms have become so embedded in daily life that they now dominate public discourse, shape access to information, and influence political content (Fischer & Jarren, 2024). In other words, when TikTok or Instagram decides what you see, they're not just running an app, they're shaping what society thinks and talks about. Fischer and Jarren (2024) warn that journalistic values relevant to democracy are being replaced by platform-driven, attention-seeking business models. That's a serious problem.

And then there's hashtag activism.

Hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #ClimateChange don't just organise content — they build communities. Theocharis et al. (2023) found that social media has reshaped political engagement entirely — sharing petitions, following political figures, commenting, forwarding news — these are now all legitimate forms of political participation. Political engagement is shifting from long-term party membership to flexible, issue-based action online.

Being online IS being a citizen now. The question is what kind.

References: Fischer, R., & Jarren, O. (2024). The platformization of the public sphere and its challenge to democracy. Philosophy & Social Criticism, 50(1), 200–215.https://doi.org/10.1177/01914537231203535

Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). (2024). Klik dengan bijak. https://www.komunikasi.gov.my/en/program-semasa/23446-klik-dengan-bijak-main-peranan-penting-pastikan-keselamatan-rakyat-malaysia-terjamin-semasa-berada-di-dalam-talian

Suing, A., Alarcon-Llontop, L.-R., & Bizberge, A. (2024). Appreciations and practices of digital citizenship in the Andean community. Frontiers in Communication, 9, Article 1336528. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2024.1336528

✊ #BlackLivesMatter ✊ #MeToo ✊ #StopAsianHate

Today, hashtags are no longer just used to categorize posts online. They have become powerful tools for activism, awareness and political engagement. Before this week’s lecture, I mainly saw hashtags as trends or social media features. However, learning about hashtag publics and digital citizenship completely changed my perspective on how online activism functions in modern society.

One of the key concepts discussed this week was the idea of “hashtag publics.” According to Bruns and Burgess, hashtags help form digital communities around shared issues, experiences and conversations. They organise public discussions online and allow people from different parts of the world to participate in collective conversations instantly.

Social media platforms such as Twitter/X, Instagram and TikTok have transformed political participation by allowing ordinary users to publicly share opinions, experiences and support for social causes.

📱 In many ways, hashtags have become digital gathering spaces.

For example, the #BlackLivesMatter movement became one of the largest online activist movements in recent years. What began as a hashtag evolved into a global conversation about racism, police brutality and systemic inequality. Similarly, #MeToo created a space for survivors of sexual harassment and assault to share their experiences publicly.

I think one reason hashtag activism feels powerful is because it allows personal experiences to become visible on a massive scale.

The lecture discussed how digital citizenship involves participating responsibly within society using digital technologies. Mossberger et al. (2008) describe digital citizenship as participation and engagement within communities through digital platforms. This suggests that political engagement today is no longer limited to voting or joining political organisations.

Instead, digital citizenship increasingly includes:

sharing information

raising awareness

participating in online campaigns

discussing political issues online

supporting activist movements through digital platforms

Research by Theocharis et al. (2023) also explains that political engagement on social media includes activities such as sharing petitions, following political figures, commenting on political posts and forwarding news online.

Personally, I think social media has made activism feel more accessible to younger generations.

In the past, political participation often required joining organisations, attending events or engaging in formal political systems. Today, social media allows people to participate in conversations immediately through posts, hashtags and online campaigns.

🌍 However, this also raises important questions.

Can hashtag activism create real social change, or is it sometimes performative?

Many people criticize “slacktivism,” where users repost hashtags or black squares online without taking meaningful action offline. During movements such as #BlackLivesMatter, some companies and influencers posted supportive content online while failing to make actual changes within their organisations.

This made me think about the difference between visibility and action.

While hashtags can spread awareness extremely quickly, awareness alone may not always solve structural social problems. At the same time, online visibility can still be incredibly important because it gives marginalized communities opportunities to share experiences that traditional media may ignore.

Another interesting point from the lecture was platformisation.

Platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Twitter are not neutral spaces. Algorithms influence which content becomes visible, viral or ignored. This means social media companies indirectly shape political discussions online.

For example, certain activist movements may trend globally while others receive little visibility depending on platform algorithms, moderation systems or audience engagement patterns.

💭 Overall, this week’s lecture showed me that hashtags are much more than simple social media tools. They create digital publics where political discussions, activism and identity formation occur online. Social media has transformed how people engage with social issues and participate in public conversations.

Although hashtag activism has limitations, it has undeniably changed how modern activism operates.

In today’s digital world, even a hashtag can become a political movement.

📚 References Bruns, A. & Burgess, J. research on hashtag publics and online activism. Mossberger, K., Tolbert, C. & McNeal, R. (2008) Digital Citizenship and Participation. Theocharis, Y. et al. (2023) Political engagement on social media.

Hashtags on social media platforms ensure different posts are connected, much like hyperlinks making it easier for connection in the effort to drive a cause we believe in. It’s used to categorize content and make it easier to find. When a hashtag is added to a post, it links the subjects and content to others using the same hashtag, creating a larger conversation around a particular topic. They can turn into global movements that spread awareness, promote solidarity, and drive change.

There’s an ease in effort when utilizing this technique. It’s about having conversations online over the more traditional physical activism where people are “boots on ground” in person. Visibility becomes power in campaigns and drives social change. When I’m online I can see if a person is posting on behalf of a cause because it’s in my face as I look through their feed.

This module has been so personal for me because I am many hashtags. The reality is I come from multiple marginalized groups in our society. I am a Native American(#NotInvisible) and Black (#BlackLivesMatter) woman(#sandrabland) who happens to be in the military(#IAmVanessaGuillen).Television has even adopted a series called #Textmewhenyougethome that brings awareness to violence against women.