Social Media–led Protest Movements: Dangers of Mobilising Large Crowds within an Ideological Void and Heritage to Mediated Mobilisation

Abstract

This chapter examines the potential corelation between technologically led changes in media ecologies and changes in mediated mobilisation compared to the traditional forms of citizen mobilisation, namely political protest mobilisation. Based on previous empirical research on the Aganaktismenoi movement (Zestanaki, 2019), I investigate the effect this new form of mass mobilisation has on participants' political sophistication with an emphasis on the measurable indication or political efficacy, a recognised political communication tool. I argue that mobilising large crowds within an ideological void enabled by the heavily mediatised current environment is becoming a challenging democratic endeavour. This approach opens new possibilities for a multiparadigm, more advanced research on media sociology and political communication, from a critical intellectual perspective.

Citation

Zestanaki, S.(. (2020), "Social Media–led Protest Movements: Dangers of Mobilising Large Crowds within an Ideological Void and Heritage to Mediated Mobilisation", Veneti, A. and Karatzogianni, A. (Ed.) The Emerald Handbook of Digital Media in Greece (Digital Activism and Society: Politics, Economy And Culture In Network Communication), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 419-434. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83982-400-520201062