This sounds awfully like an old man moaning about the youth of today.
The internet is a tool that definitely can be and is used by activists of all stripes. Its most obvious use is in communicating between otherwise separated groups. Take the example of the Countryside Alliance in this country, which gobsmacked 'traditional' activists by its ability to get very large numbers of people to rallies and marches on very short notice. That partly reflects the strength of feeling of course, but it also represents how good the communications network is and an awful lot of it was done by email networks spreading the news. Something that would have taken weeks or months can now take a few days.
It's also a good research tool but also, with things like Wikipedia, a means of spreading information with a particular political slant. In a world where all information is equal, nobody dominates what opinions others can form.
If he thinks activists aren't using the internet maybe he needs to look beyond his narrow definition of an activist. The Tea Party in the US seems to be using the internet very effectively. So are the numerous groups of all persuasions in the Middle East. So are hundreds of thousands of other organisations from small local charities to international movements. People who still think just marching in the street makes any difference may well be using the internet ineffectively - but then they are probably doing everything else ineffectively as well.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The internet is a tool that definitely can be and is used by activists of all stripes. Its most obvious use is in communicating between otherwise separated groups. Take the example of the Countryside Alliance in this country, which gobsmacked 'traditional' activists by its ability to get very large numbers of people to rallies and marches on very short notice. That partly reflects the strength of feeling of course, but it also represents how good the communications network is and an awful lot of it was done by email networks spreading the news. Something that would have taken weeks or months can now take a few days.
It's also a good research tool but also, with things like Wikipedia, a means of spreading information with a particular political slant. In a world where all information is equal, nobody dominates what opinions others can form.
If he thinks activists aren't using the internet maybe he needs to look beyond his narrow definition of an activist. The Tea Party in the US seems to be using the internet very effectively. So are the numerous groups of all persuasions in the Middle East. So are hundreds of thousands of other organisations from small local charities to international movements. People who still think just marching in the street makes any difference may well be using the internet ineffectively - but then they are probably doing everything else ineffectively as well.