Virtual Communication Tactics: Activist Organizations in Second Life

• In Event: Discursive Tactics for Social Change: Research on Activist Organizations and Social Movements

Abstract

The virtual world of Second Life is a free, online, rapid communication and collaboration platform with an increasing presence of activist organizations and groups working globally for societal change. This paper presents (1) an overview of the vast range of activist and advocacy groups already operating in Second Life, (2) five concrete examples of virtual activities and real impacts across a range of social issues, and (3) a description of the affordances of the virtual world environment that provide the rationale for selecting Second Life as a communication tactic for activists. Activist groups include those addressing sustainability, global warming, women’s advocacy, genocide, and social justice and peace groups, among hundreds of others.

Author

• Leslie Jarmon, University of Texas, Austin