Last night I watched a documentary about the incredible artist and activist Ai Wei Wei.
His presence on Twitter is part of a Chinese social media that extends beyond the great firewall, put in place by the Chinese government. He believes that “connection is an extremely important part of both life and art”, and whilst his popularity in China remains relatively small, he is increasingly idolized in the West.
His involvement in the network is a platform to inspire global audiences, push boundaries and challenge Chinese authorities. Something that in our democratic society we are free to do, but for Ai Wei Wei is a dangerous act of defiance.
This is an example of someone who has realized the potential of social media and the network to reach and inform on a massive scale. Using social media as a weapon against the authorities he records and shares everything. And that’s how you make people notice.
