How to Become an Activist - Online Activism
There are a lot of people who want to know how to become an activist. Unfortunately, many young people these days feel that they have no choice but to sit at home and "tweet" or "chat" about anything and everything. While many people will argue that social media is a positive thing, I beg to differ. The truth is that the Internet has now become a place where activists go to meet, and in some cases, to organize.
If you want to get involved in any type of activism, there is only one way to go: you can either seek out help from a college or university, or you can go it alone. Many younger people are interested in getting involved with social justice, and while that certainly is a noble cause, they simply lack the skills necessary to make a difference on their own. They are simply too uneducated to do anything on their own.
However, that does not mean that they should not be involved in any type of activism. There are only two ways to learn how to become an activist. You can either learn from others who have been successful in their endeavors or you can learn from those who failed. There are people online willing to share their stories, and these stories can be an eye opener into the world of activism. Often times, it is the stories of those who have failed that give us a better view of what is required to succeed.
The first step to learning how to become an activist is to figure out what types of issues you wish to be involved in. Do you want to be involved in environmentalism, animal rights, freedom of speech issues, political activism? No matter what your hopes and desires are, if you are looking for a way to get involved, there is a ready audience out there for your message. Social media sites such as Facebook allow you to interact with other people, which gives you the chance to network. You can also join groups of other activists in order to learn more about what drives them.
The next step is to look for opportunities online that will allow you to promote your ideas and spread your message. You can use article marketing, blogging, YouTube, MySpace, email lists, and forums to help promote your cause. These are just a few avenues that you can use, but there are many others.
Another way how to become an activist is to get out there and actually make some positive changes in the world. If you are passionate about something, then you should be sure to do whatever you can to make it a reality. If you are unable to personally make a difference in the world, then join an organization that has people who are willing to take a stand. While it may not seem as glamorous as being an internet blogger posting self-posts and links to paid ads, it can be a very effective way to create change.
Many younger people have joined movements such as the environmental movement, animal rights, and the fight against corporate greed. In all these types of campaigns, it is important to stand up for what you believe in. Even if you feel like your opinion does not matter, you should at least make your voice heard by participating in political debates online. It is possible to make a difference in the political landscape through your online activism. Agency is one way how to become an activist that will positively impact your world.
Even if you want to stay home and watch your favorite television show, you can still get involved in online activism. You need only find an idea for a campaign that you feel strongly about. Then get out there and begin to participate. There are a number of different causes that you could support, but remember that you need to keep the focus local. Online activism can bring awareness to an issue, but it doesn't do much good if the political establishment isn't concerned about the outcome.