What is the real added value of online technology in our efforts to save the planet?
An interconnected generation
During the previous decade, millions of people around the globe have gained Internet access, a development that led to a higher scale of global interconnectivity. It is indisputable that the Internet also took over the lifestyles of young people around the world: When not in school or at work, many young people sit in front of their computers or smart phones, interacting on social platforms, blogs or online forums.
A few years ago, there was a general agreement among the older generation that this development had made the young generation very passive and asocial, as they spent too much time in the virtual world instead of the real world.
Saving the planet online
However, recently it has become widely recognized that online technologies can also serve meaningful causes: They can promote social causes, get people engaged, unite people, multiply engagement and start mass movements to an extent never witnessed before. Moreover, it becomes evident that those technologies require particular skills — skills that are mainly mastered by young people.
A good example is the climate movement in the run-up to the global climate summit in Copenhagen last year. The movement, which has been mainly led by young people, started exclusively online, gained momentum and touched the world.
The challenges
But as much as it is desirable that every effort created online is as effective as the climate movement, we have to admit that this is not the case. Many online campaigns slowly fade away without having a real impact, or they have a certain impact online, but remain exclusively virtual, without touching the real world.
Further, it has come to a point where some people think that in order to save the world, it needs nothing more than a mouse-click. But embracing an online campaign by uploading a pledge or becoming a facebook-fan may not be enough to implement change. Thus, some people argue nowadays that we have to break loose of the online technologies and go “back to the roots” by refocusing on real action.
Last but not least, many argue that people with weaker economic backgrounds, as well as some whole geographic areas, are totally excluded from online debates. This is so because accessing a computer can be very costly and requires a certain infrastructure, which is not available in every region of the world.
The debate
Questions for discussion:
This is a very crucial debate, a debate that has to be led by us young people, since we are the ones using and mastering the new online technologies. Please leave a comment below and reply to the three questions!
About
Having always been passionate about youth issues, Mischa has worked in various youth institutions in Switzerland, Nepal and Mexico. During the previous two years Mischa acted as Project Manager in Kofi Annan’s Global Humanitarian Forum where he created and established the organization’s youth section. In this endeavor, Mischa has organized various events, roundtables and activities focusing on intergenerational dialogue. Currently, Mischa works for UNFPA as advocacy and communications specialist.
I totally agree with you, a good balance of both has to be found. However, what is this perfect blend that you were talking about? I would be very interested to hear more about that, could you be more specific?
Further, regarding the challenge to reach people in places where there is no infrastructure: How do you reach those YOUNG people with campaigning? What are good methods to connect to them, interact with them, and engage them in a certain cause? These are very open questions, everybody is invited to share some ideas or experiences!
If I'm not mistaken, there was a comment in your conference at the WYC this past week talking about the use of the radio as social media. I believe, seen as even in the poorest, most secluded regions in Mexico there is at least one radio, that using this means of communication can be very effective to connect those young people who are not able to make use of the internet. Music, conversations, etc., over the radio can reach many more people than any internet campaign.
Humaya, good that you mention it. I think that when talking about social media, it is very important to also talk about those people who have very limited or no access to the internet. I think radio is very powerful in this regard, since even in very remote places people seem to have access to radios. However, I do not perceive radio as a "social media instrument". Social media have the characteristic that they are very interactive, which is not the case with radio, since it is more "one-way" (from moderator to audience). This is one of the disadvantages of radio. Or is there a way how radio can be used in a more interactive way? If somebody has any ideas, please let us know!
There are some radio broadcasting stations which have open call lines where people dial up and phone up to register their views and choices....this facility could be used more proactively...
On line campaigns work wonders for dissemination of information.....which can be accessed by people of everywhere and anywhere........it sensitizes the online community and provides the platform to brainstorm and to work out for diverse solutions....But this has to be reflected in the real world too.....and so augmented by offline programmes...in schools, university, seminar's, projects, social service periods. local neighbourhood campaigns, national and local multimedia, newspapers, periodicals......endorsed by the entertainment stars and celebrities of the particular region...etc.
There are so many levels to a perfect action.....even though it begins from the heart...goes to the brain and finally the hands and legs complete and concretize the final result....so all means of technology should complement and complete the work at hand.
Pleasant P V
Tuesday 24th August, 2010, 5:00am
Campaigns should be a combination of both online and offline methodologies with an inclination towards offline methods. Online technologies offer only one thing: transfer of information. And that should be the reason why impact of online campaigns fade out quickly. If we can come up with a perfect blend of both methods, that would have the best impact. In places where there is no infrastructure, obviously online campaigns don't work and we will have to rely exclusively on offline methodologies like personal visits. But then again it will be an expensive affair for the people who conduct the campaign. There will be a trade-off.