Pirate culture and hacktivist mobilization

The cultural and social protocols of #WikiLeaks on Twitter

Bibliographic Data

ID12656018
AuthorsStefan Lindgren (0000-0001-6289-9427, Umeå University, corresponding author), Ragnar Lundström (0000-0003-4939-8569, Umeå University)
Year2011
Volume13
Issue6
Pages999-1018
Publication date2011-06-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueNew Media & Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1461-4448 • E-ISSN: 1461-7315
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1461444811414833
OpenAlexW2118071903
LanguageEN
Citations received32
References cited18

This article uses the case of Twitter activity under the #WikiLeaks hashtag to address issues of social movements online. The aim is to analyze the potential of elusive web spaces as sites of mobilization. Looking at linguistic and social aspects, our main questions were: What are the characteristics of the communication in terms of common discursive codes versus fragmentation? In what respects can social order be distinguished, and to what extent are connections between users simply random? Are there any prominent patterns as regards the commitment of participators over time? With the help of tools from semantic, social network and discourse analysis, we were able to show that common codes, networks of connections and mobilization do exist in this context. These patterns can be seen as part of the elaboration of a ‘cognitive praxis’. In order to organize and mobilize, any movement needs to speak a common language, agree on the definition of the situation and formulate a shared vision. Even though it is global and loosely-knit, Twitter discourse is a space where such processes of meaning-production take place

Business · Context (archaeology · Epistemology · Meaning (existential · Mobilization · Order (exchange · Political science · Politics · Praxis · Public relations · Social media · Social movement · Sociology · World Wide Web · Computer Science · Digital Communication and Language · Discourse Analysis in Language Studies · Law · Social Media and Politics