Over the past decade, the world has witnessed a significant rise in global movements, many of them driven by young people. This phenomenon represents a paradigm shift in the way social and political demonstrations are organised and gain momentum.
Increasingly connected through the internet and digital tools, young people around the world have mobilised in virtual communities to advocate, resist, organise events and raise funds for causes they care about. Despite their under-representation in formal political structures and their disillusionment with failed governance systems, young people are claiming a space in their communities by adopting new forms of participation.
Digital youth activism can be defined as a form of civic engagement specifically carried out by young people, using the internet and digital media as key platforms for mass mobilisation and social and political action. This definition underlines the importance of the digital environment as a means for young people to actively engage in civic, social, and political issues.
This activism encompasses a range of activities, including organising and participating in online campaigns, disseminating information and ideas related to social and political issues, using social networks to raise awareness and mobilise, and participating in online discussions and debates on relevant issues.
The focus is on how young people use digital tools to influence public opinion, promote change and encourage collective action around causes of common interest. They are also characterised by their inclusive and democratic nature, allowing young people from diverse social and geographical backgrounds to participate in these movements, often overcoming the traditional barriers of conventional activism.
This reflects a significant shift in the dynamics of civic engagement and opens up new opportunities for youth participation and leadership on issues of global importance. By combining digital platforms with traditional street actions, these movements reflect this new model of activism and a new form of global consciousness and solidarity.
The role of technology and social media has been central to this rise. The ease of communication and organisation through digital platforms has enabled young activists to coordinate and mobilise thousands of people around the world quickly and effectively. The ability to connect different cultures and geographies around common causes is one of the key differentiators of this new activism.
This is because online platforms provide a space for debate, organisation and information dissemination, and offline actions such as marches and protests materialise these debates in the physical world. This convergence creates a powerful mechanism for action and visibility.
Youth-led social movements such as the Arab Spring and campaigns such as #MeToo exemplify the use of online space to organise, mobilise and promote causes.
The Arab Spring was a series of popular uprisings and revolutions that took place in several countries in the Middle East and North Africa from 2010 onwards and was deeply marked by youth activism and innovative use of digital technologies. Young activists played a central role in these mobilisations, using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to organise protests, disseminate information quickly and mobilise public opinion inside and outside their countries. The ability to bypass state censorship and connect with a global audience has made youth activism a catalytic force, driving demands for democracy, freedom of expression and human rights.
The #MeToo movement, which rose to global prominence in 2017, reinforces how youth activism and digital platforms can work together to foster meaningful social change. Initially focused on exposing sexual harassment and abuse of power, particularly in the workplace, the movement quickly spread across social media, encouraging people of all ages to share their experiences and demand justice. The strategic use of hashtags and the ability of digital platforms to virilise these messages allowed #MeToo to transcend geographical and cultural boundaries, creating a global wave of awareness about sexual harassment. The active participation of young people, both as victims and as allies in the fight against the culture of silence and impunity, highlighted the importance of digital activism as a tool to mobilise, raise awareness and push for legislative and cultural change around gender equality and mutual respect.
These examples illustrate how social media acts as a catalyst for awareness-raising and mobilisation, while street demonstrations translate this digital energy into concrete action. This combination maximises the reach and impact of movements, creating a dynamic in which online and offline feed into each other.
Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced this trend, as young people use digital tools to communicate and engage on issues such as racial injustice, inequality, and climate change, demonstrating that social causes transcend physical boundaries.
While digital tools such as social media, communication platforms and mobilisation apps have the potential to increase young people’s engagement and democratic participation, this expansion is not happening equally across all youth groups. There are several reasons for this inequality.
First, access to digital technology varies widely. Young people in regions with more developed technological infrastructure and better technology education have more opportunities to engage digitally in civic and political issues. On the other hand, young people in areas with limited internet access and technology resources are less likely to participate in these forms of digital engagement.
Other factors such as education, socio-economic background and digital literacy influence young people’s ability to engage effectively in digital activism. Issues of digital inclusion and technological literacy are crucial.
In addition, these movements face other important challenges, such as the spread of misinformation, political polarisation, and government repression in many countries. Another concern is the long-term sustainability of these movements, given the often-ephemeral nature of online campaigns.
The future of digital activism will depend on the ability to overcome these obstacles and use technology ethically and effectively to promote positive social change.
Thus, while digital technologies offer new opportunities for democratic participation among young people, it is crucial to recognise and address existing inequalities in order to ensure more inclusive and equitable participation.
Complementary activities
1- Research a case study: Choose a specific movement driven by young digital activism, such as the Arab Spring or #MeToo, and conduct in-depth research. As a suggestion, here is a link to learn more about the #MeToo movement: https://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0719-367X2023000200002
2 – Reflection on digital ethics: Organise a reflection session on the ethical challenges facing digital activism, such as the spread of misinformation, online privacy, and cyberbullying. Discuss how digital activists can responsibly address these challenges.
Here is a link to an article on digital ethics:https://www.pt.pt/pt/blog/a-literacia-digital-e-o-seu-impacto-na-etica-digital/
