A case study of the hashtag #SOSVenezuela and an exploration into the true impact social media has on political and social change throughout the world. Can a hashtag change the world?

1. A CASE STUDY

2. Social Media Activism:
A History
What is Happening in
Venezuela?
Can Social Media Create
TRUE Social Change ?
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3. Social Media Activism:
A History
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4. SOCIAL MEDIA HISTORY
1994 – The Dawning - Geocities
1997 – Blogging begins. AOL Chat
1998 – Google
2001 – Wikipedia
2002 – Friendster (3 million, 3 months)
2003 – Myspace & LinkedIn
2004 – Facebook, Podcasting, Flickr, Digg
2005 – YouTube
2006 – Twitter
2007 – iPhone / Smartphones
2009 – Facebook Takes Over
2011 – Two billion internet users

5. 2011 ARAB SPRING
Citizen-led protest across North Africa and the Middle East.
Source: NPR, The Arab Spring: A Year Of Revolution

6. 2011 ARAB SPRING
Esraa Abdel Fattah
• Egyptian internet activist and
blogger known as "Facebook Girl“
• Creator of the April 6
Movement group on Facebook
• Organized the major protest in
Cairo's Tahrir Square on Jan. 25,
2011
• 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee

7. 2011 ARAB SPRING

8. 2011 ARAB SPRING

9. 2011 ARAB SPRING
Game Changers
# FACEBOOK GROUP
Forum for open communication, education and to organize next steps
towards democracy.
# MOBILE PHONES
Mass use of digital media and mobile phones united disparate groups
(Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Lybia, Syria, Bahrain and Yemen).
# BY-PASS TRADITIONAL MEDIA
State-controlled media and government bans on communication.
Cairo Review of Global Affairs

10. # What is Happening in
Venezuela?

11. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
CHAVISMO
1999 - Hugo Chavez socialist
government
2002 – A coup d'etat that
ousted Chavez for 47 hours was
thwarted by military loyalist and
popular support.
2013 - Chavez died. Nicolas
Maduro won April's special
elections by controversial margin.

12. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Most of the economy has been
NATIONALIZED which halted the
economy & scared off external
investments.
SOURCES: Bloomberg News and United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

13. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Inflation up to almost 60%
SOURCES: Bloomberg News and United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

14. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Serious Food Shortages
SOURCES: Bloomberg News and United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

15. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
1 person is murdered every
21 minutes
SOURCES: Bloomberg News and United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

16. WHAT IS HAPPENING?
Basic Human Rights are being
violated daily.
SOURCES: Bloomberg News and United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

17. # Can Social Media Create
Social Change?

18. # Social Activism
Social Media is not a solution but
ONE OF THE TOOLS for social change.
1963 2014

19. # What can one click do?
Over 7 million tweets

20. # What can one click do?
It give people their voice back
It organizes activists
It generates international support
It incites massive action
It provides options to show support
Builds a community

21. # Game Changers
Photos and Video
Messages in English
Emotional Connection
Organized Mass Tweets to Influencers

22. # Change is Possible
House Bill hr4587-113
PASSED
May 28th, 2014
This bill would impose targeted sanctions on individuals responsible for
carrying out or ordering human rights abuses against the citizens of
Venezuela, and for other purposes.
The sanctions would include rescinding visas, imposing trade embargoes,
and freezing both individual and corporate bank accounts for those
involved with human rights abuses.

23. # Social Activism
THE CLICK IS THE FIRST STEP
NOT THE LAST
An alternative
A clear plan of action
An infrastructure that supports change

24. CLICK HERE TO MAKE A
CHANGE