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Mobile Activism is the use of mobile technologies to address social issues.This occurs through different process such as the collection of data, circulation of information,and advocating social networks for social changes.

Description
Activists have been sampling many different mobile applications and tools to aid them in their social causes.These tools include SMS, text base software and phone calls. Organizations and activists are employing the capability of mobile technology to develop and expand their causes,organize actions and demonstrations to increase awareness about social matter. Activist have argued that mobile communication facilitate autonomy, as it allows individuals to make their own networks without the need of mass media or other communication medium organized by institutions.Through basic mobile phone or smartphones ,activist are able to immediately connect with their structure of supporters and colleagues. Non-governmental organization are even hiring staff to research ways to efficiently use mobile technologies to expand their cause.The uses of mobile technologies by activist has allowed them to take advantage of mobile technologies to create content as well as forwarding it.

Mobile Phone
The mobile phone is the most common mobile device used by mobile activists. "More than one billion phones were sold during 2007, ten times the number of computers". Mobile phones are one of the most productive devices for communication across the globe. One of the reasons for this is because it’s easier for people to get access to a personal mobile phone than a computer.Thus,Mobile Technologies allow activist to reach people who are offline. We can see this in the Image, there are more people with cell phones than with internet in Africa.Its gives activists a quicker way to reach someone. This is appealing to activists who need to have ready and reliable contact with others. It has minimun boundaries, as it is low-cost and easy to understand for most users. Most people know how to use a phone than a computer.



Mobile phones are perfect for activists because communication can still function even if mainstream media is cut off. Also It gives them more control of their content, rather than relying on a spokesperson to deliver news. Mobile phones can be used to make phone calls to news station to broadcast information about an event to mainstream media.Mobiles are effective as they’re exclusive,universal and capable of creating content.

Fabien Miard (2008) explains that the use of mobile phones by activists can be understood by three factors; Personalization, Mobility and Multimodality. Mobility gives the phone a spontaneous element where users can reply instantly to events. Personalization is obtained through the person to person type of contact. Multimodality can be used to broadcast, text, send images and sound which makes it a communication tool in which information on live events can be shared on networks.All three of these factors turn the mobile phone into a fundamental tool and tactic for social organizations to use. Mobile phones can be used in different aspirations,numerous frameworks and it’s up to the gifted minds of the activists to use the mobile phone for their possibility. A extraordinary component of mobile phones as media is the potential of the video camera, converge with its flexibility and affordability (in comparison with other digital videos)has observe a large spectrum of use from interview, to demonstrations to creating advertising for social issues marketing. Fundamentally, they offer a space to reexamine the power relations of development. Rather than circulating existing ideas, mobile phones might offer a chance to reshape current, and not notably effective assumptions. Mobile phones affect the development and pace of information as a text message, a photo or video (via mobile phone) taken at a demonstration can be forwarded to others and websites (smartphones),hence be available to a large audience in a short period of time.

SMS
The most popular tool used by mobile activists is short message service (SMS). The price of SMS is cheap and affordable for many activists. Furthermore, SMS is effective because it requires less time than making a phone call. There are numerous ways that SMS is used by activists; they use it to recruit supporters, publish and circulate information, and manage the movement of people during demonstrations. Organizations have also tried to petition and fund-raise through SMS, where users would text a code and name to a certain number as a representation of their support.

Bulk texting is a useful tactic for organizations that want to send unified messages or relevant information to supporters. By bulk texting they can type one message and send it to many people. Through these actions, activists can reach a large number of people quicker than other methods. Text messages carry a personal aspect more than other modes of communication. When a person forwards a text message with information to people in his or her contacts, then it is received by people who have a relation with the sender. Due to this relationship the person is more likely to reply and forward the message to others. Personal messages are more likely to generate a reaction,such as forwarding the message or following the recommended method, such as meeting up to assemble at a protest.Personalized Text messages can influence personal beliefs and political activities, so activist are more likely to gain empathy from people through text messages. When a person receive a message from someone in their contact, they are more likely to believe that it is true.

The Republican National Committee(RNC) in 2006 inspired people to become supporters by texting "JOIN" to a short code which makes it easy for supporters to remember. Mary Joyce(2010) describe a short code as a phone number with fewer numbers than a regular telephone.RNC also used this to send text message updates to supporter about RNC campaigns efforts. This idea was also seen in Africa, where Fahamu created a structure where users were able to sign petition through SMS, supporter signatures then would appear on the online petition page. This idea was a success as five hundred signatures came in text messages, out of four thousand signatures collected.

SMS Software
Mobile Activist use a variety of free and open software tools that are available to extend the basic features of mobiles;

Txtmob
Txtmobs a mobile social service that broadcasts text messages. It is a service that lets people share text messages with friends, family and even strangers. People can also sign up to receive messages to and from different associations, which range from many different topics. Messages would automatically be forwarded to all members in the group. Activists would use this service to broadcast important information. This was used to communicate and coordinate in 2004 during the decentralized protests at the United States Democratic and Republican convention. The system was both beneficial and harmful to activists. The structure was flexible in that it allowed stakeholders to take over it, even though it was created to meet the needs of activists. Users such as mainstream media and law enforcement were able to use this system to monitor the activities or figure out where protestors activities would take place. TXTmob became an aid for activist as well as an aid for law enforcement.

FrontlineSMS
FrontlineSms is an open-source software that runs on a laptop connected to a GSM modem (modem that accepts SIM cards), a mobile phone, or an online SMS service. One of the reasons why activists use this software is because of its ability to incorporate different technologies. FrontlineSMS allows users to connect a range of mobile technologies to a computer to send and receive text messages. The software works without an internet connection by interlacing a device with a local phone number. FrontlineSMS can be connected to online text messages services and set up to send incoming messages to other web or e-mail services.

There are many features on this software; one is that it allows messages to be filtered by keywords. It only needs a computer and one mobile phone to become an SMS distribution channel from one to many users. During the presidential election in Kenya, there were a lot of controversies surrounding it, so Ushahidi Inc was invented. It is a website that enables people to send texts and pictures of violence and then it would be marked on Google map. How it works is that, a SMS text messages gets sent to a local number, it is then rerouted through FrontlineSMS that integrate with the Ushahidi platform and then the messages show up on the website.

Mobile Activism in First World and Developing Countries
Mobile phones are common not just in the industrialized world but also in developing countries. This make them an attractive device to activists as information can be carried out from countries to countries. Mobile Devices in first world countries integrates the accessibility to online networks with mobile devices.While in the developing countries the mobile devices are simple, as many countries, do not have access to smartphones. Activist in first world countries are more precisely to use smartphones. In first world countries, mobile technologies have increasingly become connected with internet and online technologies. For example Twitter is on many mobile devices, creating a new means of circulating information. In first world Countries,smartphones have become a dominate tool for organizing, assembling, and broadcast protest actions. Mobile applications are being designed to help with the activist movement.

In developing countries, the use of mobile phones for social action has facilitated a large number of people to participate. Cell phones are often the most useful and relatively affordable type of telecommunications access for developing countries. As Mobile and wireless technologies provide platforms for many citizens, where computers, and Internet access remain out of reach. The reason why most developing countries do not have internet is because their environments do not have the foundation to support the application of the Internet. For developing countries, mobile phone users outpace internet user. So it is better for activists in these developing countries to rely on the circulation of information through text messages.In first world countries users are able to receive messages in a variety of ways, while developing countries access to information is slim. The share features that these type of countries have are that there is a large number of people with mobile devices.

Mobile Active
There is are a lot of elements happening in this field, which is being promoted through blogs and others form of networks; such as Mobile Active.Mobile Active is an organization that informs and teaches citizens about the use of mobile technology for social impact. The Mobile Active website promotes mobile activism and share success story about mobile activism.According to Mobile Active; "They are committed to increasing the effectiveness of non-government organization around the world who recognize that the 3.5 billion mobile phones provide unprecedented opportunities for organizing, communications, and service and information delivery". Mobile Active offer guides in several languages,where it covers the use of mobile phones for electoral and voter campaigns, election monitoring, assistance and fundraising. The Mobile Active news section provides readers with actual events in which mobile phone where used to fight social issues.

Tactics
To enhance the use of mobile devices, social activist use several form of tactics. These tactics are enhanced and made possible through the use of mobile technologies.

Smart Mobbing
This is argued to be one of the earliest pratices that showed the potential of mobile technology. A term created by Howard Rheingold; He states that “smart mob” in virtue of the proliferation of wireless technologies that intensified human potential for political activism. Smart mobs develop when communication and computing technologies magnify human talents for cooperation. It is a group of people who cooperate and coordinate their actions primarily through the use of mobile phones, PDA’S (Personal Digital Assistant) and SMS.The people who make up smart mobs collaborate in ways never before possible because they carry devices that have both communication and computing capabilities. Their mobile devices connect them with other information devices in the environment as well as with other people's. Smart mobs are known to move quickly and effectively.Since the protestors are in constant contact through media they are able to communicate if the police are on their way to break up the protests.

There is a negative side to smart mobs. This was evident at the Sydney race riots in December 2005 ,violence on a certain ethnic group was encouraged through text messages. Here impromptu gatherings can be seen as a risk to public order or an expression of the right of free speech.

Sousveillance
The sending of videos messages to report human rights violations and violence, is a tactic used by mobile activist.The ability of the mobile devices allow activists to fight against law enforcement government.Mobile devices increase the potential for average citizens to monitor government, corporations and law enforcement.Through this action, mobile activist are participating in what Steven Mann calls, “Sousveillance”. Sousveillance is watching from below and the recording of events from the eye's of average citizens. In the mobile activism world, it is the monitoring of authority figures by activist using the technology or techniques of surveillance.

Mainstream media tends to focus on the violence that protestors do rather than the violence done on protesters. The recording of law enforcement violence challenges the dominant images of protesters in mainstream media. So these videos play an important element to creating a counter argument against mainstream media. In September 2007, images and videos circulated through mobile phones which showed the world, Burma’s military violently suppressing anti-government protests by Buddhist monks. The government had attempted to present only a clean version of the demonstrations, keeping back any news about violence. However outside media outlets (which the government prevented from reporting inside the country’s borders), were able to share information about the events because they had access to broadcast from citizens.

Ringtones
Ringtones are made downloadable for citizens by mobile activists as a way to raise awareness.Having a ringtone that is related to a particular social or political campaign enables individuals to show their support of, and consensus with an issue. In New Mexico, The Center for Biological Diversity offers sounds of endangered species to raise awareness for their cause. In 2004, Philippine Vice President, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was accused of cheating her way into victory. An anonymous source released a recording with a women saying “Hello? Hello, Garci, So will I lead by one million”. The Philippines’s citizens concluded that this was Arroyo. Despite the recording, the vice president still had the possibility of an impeachment trial, while the public wanted her to resign. Arroya then appeared on national television to apologize. Soon after her apology, a “Sorry Po” ringtone appeared and circulated mocking her apology.

People Power Revolution II
It is argued that the Philippines is well known for its wide use of mobile phones across all regions. The Philippines has been celebrated as the ‘text capital’ of the world. Citizens demonstrated how the mobile phone can be a powerful tool at the trial of President Joseph Estrada. In December 2001,President Joseph Estrada was put on trial on charges of corruption and mismanagement. Senators voted against revealing evidence that would have easily convicted him therefore citizens were not happy. Citizens started organizing a protest by texting each other. The mobile phone was the key tool for citizens in coordinating collective action. Citizens received messages from individuals within their own personal social networks about where and when the protest would take place. The text messages also disseminated information about the political corruption taking place. The circulation of text message led to street protests for four days leading to Estrada being ousted. Through the use of the mobile devices the protest was effective, as it was estimated that one million Filipinos participated in the collective actions. Not only did the mobile phone create street protests, but it also allowed activists to take pictures on their phones, find people in the crowd, and record videos. People who were not at the protest were still able to get constant update of information through the use of the mobile phone. In January 2001, Supreme Court declared the people have spoken and Estrada was found guilty.

Challenges
The problem with the use of mobile technologies is the existence of barriers such as fear of government surveillance, and the cost and lack of services in certain areas. Those participating in campaigns and activism are constantly worrying that their activities on mobile devices are being monitored and traced. They are concerned that the government might interfere by harming their lives. There have been cases in which government react to activist actions by blocking SMS transmission or by shutting down mobile networks in a certain location or even periodically enforcing service blackouts. Activists who rely on mobile technologies have limited options if a network is shut down.Governments have started to copy strategies of activists by; providing information by using the different functions of the phone, both is beneficial and harmful manners, as information can be traceable. Aside from showing the truth to the public and the mass media, videos can be used by the police to identify protestors. Activists often communicate through coded language and avoid providing names and locations.

Cost is a barrier as many parts of the world people still cannot afford a mobile phone. Mobile technologies is not attainable to every single person has there are countries in which mobile service is not available. Open mobile enhance software, allows information to be traceable both online and offline. Governments have also begun to imitate the strategies of activists. For example, In China at the 2005 protest about the ascension of Japan to the United Nations Security Council, the Chinese government set out mass text message to encourage citizens not to participate in the collective activities. Governments are also shutting down cellular networks. There were report of this from Belarussian activists in Minsk who said that SMS network where shutdown to stop contact from outside the capital. Also Ethiopian activists reported that SMS was blocked during election protests in June 2005.