We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists – Doco Response

I watched  We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists last semester in relation to a Media Industries assignment. My group’s focus was Online Activism Creating Tangible Offline Change and through this research I discovered the incredible power of an individual’s political desire for change coupled with the correct social media tools and tactics. There are numerous cases of online activism that have successfully incited significant change.

How does this documentary alter your understanding of Internet?

This documentary consolidated that the internet has provide individuals that share similar social and political goals with a space to easily and instantaneously organise and share information to work toward their outcome. Surprising to even some of those involved, the online discussions can eventuate in offline participation.

The film also highlighted the power of many individuals sitting behind their screens, coordinating their actions to create serious impacts on huge corporations and governments. The doco showed that these individual’s collective actions cause damage. Committing these crimes online does not lessen the punishment when they’re caught.

How is social media used to create a community of people who share a similar interest and politics?

Social media is merely a tool for sharing the opinions expressed on the internet. Individuals find like-minded others on forums, blogs and other online social-sites that relate to their social and political interests. When one idea is shared with this group of like-minded individuals, it becomes easy to foster support. These supporters offer their different skills to help establish the online community. Promoting the offline event through Facebook invitations and Twitter allows up-to-date information to be instantly shared with all of those involved, allowing a well orchestrated event to take place. There are strength in numbers.

What ideas does this documentary raise in regards to designing an event that asks people to participate and become part of a community?

It is important to find individuals with similar interests to the event by sourcing them through related online spaces to gather a higher response rate. The individuals are likely to help through participation if their personal interests and goals are being met. It is important to know your audience, foster support from these individuals, communicate plans the plan for action, report the results and thank them for their contribution.