Digital Media and Activism - How social media affect the Hong Kong Student Strike

 Hong Kong Student Strike

Hong Kong students Monday(22th September,2014) began a week-long boycott of classes, the start of what democracy activists say will be a wider campaign of civil disobedience against China's refusal to grant the city full universal suffrage.Students sat on the street in Central, Causeway Bay, Mong Kok ,to fight for a fair nomination method for the Chief Executive election in 2017.


Compared to the last student strike in Hong Kong which is about to decisively kill the 'brainwashing' program from China had more than 8,000 students participated,the scale of this strike (in the first day) is much bigger that over 13,000 students from different universities boycotted their classes.It had quickly aroused the internetional concerns.

 

The function of social media in Hong Kong Student Strike

Social media(eg.Facebook,Instagram,Twitter and Whatsapp) help spread the related messages to more people who dont know through pictures,videos and words.Social media is so powerful that about 130,000 people join the signatory to White House for complaining and seeking help. Moreover,the news and videos about the policemen using tear gas and pepper spray to the protestors had been widespread in the internet and caused more people ,even the elderly,to join the protest.Students also used the tags -#studentstrike #umbrella revolution to arouse public's awareness.

However,some fake message had also been shared and cause misunderstandings.For example,there had been many messages that someone claimed himself as a police and said that police will use tear gas,even guns to attack protesters but it didnt happen and caused chaos.
Therefore,we should use the social media responsibly and not to spread the message without thinking.It could be a better way to support the protest.



Reference :
The Standard http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=53644
東網電視 http://the-sun.on.cc/cnt/news/20140925/00407_033.html?pubdate=20140925