Global Events and Young People’s Activist Behavior Across Diverse Cultural, Social, and Political Contexts

• In Event: Digital spaces for human rights, activism, and civic engagement

Proposal

Introduction
Social media has become a central hub for young people to explore and shape their identities and unleash their social capital (see for example Vromen et al., 2015; Yuen & Tang, 2023). Some individuals focus on specific topics, usually related to social or political issues discussed in global or local discourses, and share their experiences, ideas, and attitudes through their social media accounts, engaging in a form of online activism (see Cortés-Ramos et al., 2021; Xenos et al., 2014). As a modern-day agora, social media facilitates interactions and relationships beyond geographical boundaries. This enables activists to participate in global discourse while adapting it to a local perspective (McLeod, 2009). This adaptation can be driven by various factors, including countries' legal regulations, social norms, prominent social discourse, and audience expectations (Ling & Liao, 2020).
The formation of an activist's focal topic is also influenced by numerous factors, including personal beliefs and views, family, peers, trust in social media, exposure to social injustices, and other personal, social, and political traits (see Cortés-Ramos et al., 2021; Schulz et al., 2023). Bennett & Segerberg (2012) propose two types of social media topical engagement. Collective action mirrors the motives to participate in offline social movements and other collective actions and involves an individual's organizational efforts. Connective action is more specific to social media and is based on individuals' social media content consumption and selection practices. The latter has sometimes appeared as a form of small actions, recently termed 'clicktivism' in the literature (e.g. Han, 2024; Piat, 2019).
The phenomenon of intersectionality originated in Black feminist theory and initially focused on the combined effect of two sources of oppression and discrimination: race and gender (Crenshaw, 1997). Later, this term was further developed by two other prominent authors in the field, incorporating class (Collins, 2022) and sexuality (hooks, 2000). More recently, this concept has expanded into various disciplines, including solidarity studies, social movements, and activism studies (e.g. Montoya, 2021; Tormos, 2017). Online activism scholarship also documents topical intersectionality – the situation in which, apart from their core topic, young activists become additionally involved in or switch to the most prominent issue being discussed in the current global agenda. Motivations for shifting from one topic to another vary considerably. Some scholars discuss the intersectional identities of youth, especially those from (Crenshaw, 1997)marginalized social groups, and a perception of social justice as a primary driver for activism (Akiva et al., 2017; Fisher & Rouse, 2022; García-Galera et al., 2017; Nicholls et al., 2021).
Others scrutinize the characteristics and role of social media as a tool for mobilizing youth engagement with particular topics (e.g. Boulianne & Ohme, 2022; Clarke & Kocak, 2020; Terriquez, 2015; Valenzuela, 2013).
Recent literature also demonstrates that highly visible global events can divert media attention from other topics, even those with significant impact. For example, the war in Gaza displaced the Russian invasion of Ukraine in the media agenda, or the COVID-19 pandemic diminished youth environmental activism on social media, which had previously been energized by the "Greta Thunberg effect" (see for example Haugseth & Smeplass, 2023; Oleinik, 2024).
These two sources of young social media identity and topic formation present an interesting case of the interplay between relatively inherent and unforeseen factors in their dynamics and alignment with local perspectives. This study investigates the formation of focal identities among young activists on social media and the influence of global events on their agendas within diverse political and social contexts.
Data and Methodology
The empirical data for this study is based on the retrospective analysis of publicly accessible activist accounts on three distinct social media platforms across seven geographical regions. We screened data from 30 open-access accounts in each of the seven locations within the six countries involved in the project. The accounts were identified based on inclusion criteria across three social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter)), with 10 accounts selected from each platform, resulting in a total of 210 accounts. Data collection was conducted in January 2024 and involved the complete scraping of publicly available posts, encompassing both textual and visual information published from January to December 2023. The data were then analyzed using thematic and inductive analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021) to investigate youth activists' topical engagements and behavior, particularly in response to significant global events.
Results
Our results show that in 2023, young activists focused on common issues covered in global discourse, such as climate change and gender inequality. However, these topics take on a local shape, mirroring the importance of the specific themes and their aspects within particular societies. For instance, the fight against gender inequality might manifest as activism against discrimination, gender-based violence, or for the right to abortion, depending on the location.
Regarding unforeseen events, we also documented the phenomenon of shifting focus from one topic to another, either in the form of solidarity or a complete transition to a new dominant agenda. The former involves young activists continuing to highlight their initial themes while also incorporating elements of the mainstream discourse. The latter represents a case of sequential intersectionality in thematic focus, where a new theme entirely replaces the old one.
These findings underscore the importance of how young activists navigate and shape their identities in the digital age, highlighting the complex interplay between global phenomena and localized activism. Furthermore, this study highlights the essential skills that must be cultivated to enable citizens to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Though social media plays a crucial role in young people's socialization, formal education systems retain the responsibility of fostering these skills. This necessitates adaptability to meet the demands of our rapidly evolving society.

Authors

• Tanya Khavenson, Technion

• Miri Yemini, Technion