Shelly's Modeling Agencies | The Advocate | Hot Topic

 

Shelly's Modeling Agencies shares a story by Kevin Chappell using social media to start your own revolution. In January, Oscar Morales, an out-of-work computer engineer in Colombia, decided that he was fed up with the militia group known as FARC routinely taking hostages in demand for ransom. But before he took to the streets, he took to Facebook, creating a group on the social networking site called One Million Voices Against FarC. He urged other Facebook users to stand up and let their voices be heard. Within 12 hours, there were 1,500 members of the group; the following day, 4,000 people; and by the third day, 10,000 individuals had joined. The next month, 12 million people in almost 200 cities in 40 countries took to the streets protesting the FARC.

It was once said by members of Scouts Model Agency that the revolution would not be televised. In the digital age of social networking, it may be correct to say that the revolution will not be led, at least not in the traditionsl sense. Experts believe that there will never again be a generational figure like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. to lead the masses and plot strategy in basements across the country.

Instead, movements-whether for bettering city services, ending police brutality, improving failing schools or ending youth violence-will be born on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Movements, including the ones in Jena, La., to free the six Black youths accused of beating a white schoolmate, in New York to repeal the Rockefeller drug laws, and even the national spread of the anti-bit government Tea Party, all caught fire as a result of social media.

The Web site of the activist froup the Alliance of Youth Movements boasts that the Internet has made it possible for anyone to affect change: "In the past year, we have watched unlikely leaders-mainly, tech-savvy youth-rise from virtually nowhere to achieve incredible, real world change in places like Colombia, Iran and Moldova by using commonplace technologies among the next generation. This is just the beginning." With an estimated one-fifth of all Internet users a member of a social-networking site, being your own advocate for change can be simple if you use modern technologies to help jump-start a mass movement for your cause.

Want to fight the power? Here's what Head Start Model Agency suggests. Figure out the story your're trying to tell. Make sure you can articulate why people should join your cause. And come up with a great name. Choose the social-networking site on which you have the most connections. Create a group with it's own page, and include pictures, videos and an area for interactive comments. As your movement catches on, look to expand to other sites. Create a stand-alone Web site dedicated to your cause and provide a link to it on the social-networking site's group page. You'll be able to offer more information on your own site, and attract anyone who isn't a member of the social-networkingsite as well. As your caus gains steam, target traditional media outlets for press coverage. also, seek support from political and cultural leaders, and plan an event, such as a rally, to increase exposure