Pirate culture and hacktivist mobilization: The cultural and social protocols of #WikiLeaks on Twitter

Abstract

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.

Disconnecting with Social Networking Sites

“…The capacity of SNSs to bridge and connect -or "collapse" -networks and social contexts (Kendall 2007, Hogan 2010, Marwick and boyd 2011b, means that connectivity can be implicated in discussions of privacy in SNSs, around issues of what gets disclosed in these contexts, to whom and how (Ahern et al 2007a, boyd 2008a, Livingstone 2008. A connective emphasis is equally present in work on the ways that creative processes are enhanced through SNS-based connection and collaboration ; in studies which outline how companies monetise the connections embedded in SNSs, such as Gerlitz and Helmond's (2013) work on the "like economy"; and in observations of the roles of SNSs in contemporary protest culture and social movements (Lindgren and Lundström 2011), where, for example, social media has been described as shifting the focus from collective to connective action (Bennett and Segerberg 2012).…”

Disputas Discursivas sobre Corrupção no Brasil: Uma Análise Discursivo-Crítica no Twitter

“…A partir da análise de outros artigos que utilizam como corpus textos produzidos por usuários da rede Twitter (Lindgren & Lundström, 2011;Page, 2012;Siapera, Hunt, & Lynch, 2015), nos resultados deste artigo reproduzimos o conteúdo de tweets na íntegra, sem a correção ortográfica ou gramatical do texto.…”

Are parliaments using social media? A comparative and longitudinal study applied in American and European countries (2010, 2105 and 2017)

“…Social networks, from a more optimistic perspective, have been identified as a space from which a part of deliberation is conducted and as a good part of the activism of contemporary political movements (Anduiza, 2014;Bennett & Segerberg, 2012;Castells, 2012;Fuchs, 2014;Lindgren and Lundström, 2011).…”