ABSTRACT
Although the digital capabilities of the new technological age allow for creative new ways to share information that bypass the mainstream press, sometimes leading to spontaneous action in the streets, not all such events can be considered social movements. This chapter explores the recent cases of cyberactivism that, although technically "public", are not necessarily considered social movements or collective action. They nevertheless demonstrate how powerful online activism is in contemporary society and how it can affect social change. The examples in the chapter show the extent to which information communication technologies have facilitated the civil society and also how they have been used as tools to challenge political and economic elites and bring public awareness and justice to cases of rape and oppression. New forms of hacktivism, website parodies, cyberactivism, and digital whistle-blowing are all being used to challenge political and economic elites, and they serve as important political resources.
