http://www.digiactive.org/wp-content/uploads/Research4_SurveyReport2009.pdf
Digital Activism Survey
Report 2009
Key Findings
Age: Of the survey's 122 respondents, 28% were between the ages of 26 and 30, with 10% above age 50
and only 2% below the age of 20. The low activism rates of these young "digital natives" may be
explained by political apathy and entertainment preferences online.
Gender: Outside North America, male respondents outnumbered female respondents by a margin of 7 to
3. If this gap holds true for digital activists in general, this further challenges the gender-neutral identity of
technology.
Geography: Geographic representation was largely consistent with global Internet access but should not
be used as representative of the true distribution of digital activists around the world.
Economics: Digital activists, particularly in developing countries, are much more likely than the population
at large to pay a monthly subscription fee to have Internet at home, to be able to afford a high-speed
connection, and to work in a white-collar job where Internet is also available. In short, digital activists are
likely to be prosperous.
Access: Intensity of use, rather than simple access, is critical as to whether or not a person is a digital
activist. This high use is only possible for people with the ability to pay for it. The Internet may be
democratizing, but its effects are felt most strongly in the global middle class.
Mobiles: Respondents with more features on their mobile phone - such as Internet, video, and GPS - are
more likely to use their phones for activism. This is another indicator of the importance of financial
resources for digital activists, both quantitatively, in terms of greater technology access, and qualitatively, in
terms of better (mobile) hardware.
Causes: Across regions, "rights" emerged as the most popular cause, with 21 different types identified by
respondents.
Broadcast: The plurality of respondents (37%) believe digital technology's greatest value for activism is
one-way communication. What makes social media useful for digital activism may not be its interactivity
but rather the fact that these technologies collapse the barrier to broadcast.
Platforms: Social networks are the most common "gateway drug" into digital activism.
Design: None of most popular activist tools – social networks, blogs, and email - were specifically made
for activism. It is likely a combination of their open and agnostic architecture, as well as their high user
base, that has made them popular with activists.
Skills: Findings on technology and advocacy skills acquisition challenge the assumption that those who
have a facility with technology are more likely to become digital activists and gives encouragement to
programs that seek to teach technology skills to traditional activists.
Offline: Older activists in the respondent group are most likely to use digital technology to increase the
efficiency of offline activities, such as training and evidence collection, and less likely to participate in
activities which have gained popularity because of the availability of online tools, such as posting original
content on web sites.