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Avatar activism: are social media avatars effective in showing support? Avatar activism: are social media avatars effective in showing support?
(6 months later)
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay rights organization in the United States, has been encouraging supporters to switch their Facebook and Twitter avatars to a version of the groups's logo, as the US supreme court hears arguments on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans.The Human Rights Campaign, the largest gay rights organization in the United States, has been encouraging supporters to switch their Facebook and Twitter avatars to a version of the groups's logo, as the US supreme court hears arguments on the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans.
On Monday, HRC implored Facebook subscribers to adopt the group's symbol – a stylized red "equals" sign. Since then, the initiative has seen a surge of support in the online community, bolstered by ardent gay-rights advocate, HRC member and actor George Takei.On Monday, HRC implored Facebook subscribers to adopt the group's symbol – a stylized red "equals" sign. Since then, the initiative has seen a surge of support in the online community, bolstered by ardent gay-rights advocate, HRC member and actor George Takei.
Takei, whose Facebook following reaches 3.7m subscribers, has been using humor to galvanize support for marriage equality.Takei, whose Facebook following reaches 3.7m subscribers, has been using humor to galvanize support for marriage equality.
HRC has flexed its muscle on social media this week, also launching #unitedformarriage, which gained enough momentum to make it to the top of United States trends yesterday on Twitter.HRC has flexed its muscle on social media this week, also launching #unitedformarriage, which gained enough momentum to make it to the top of United States trends yesterday on Twitter.
The HRC campaign has nevertheless been criticized for being ineffective.The HRC campaign has nevertheless been criticized for being ineffective.
Such "avatar activism" has been the subject of criticism in the past: in 2009, a flurry of green Twitter avatars did little to aid protests in Tehran – in fact, the social media activism may have actually made things worse for the protesters – but thousands of individuals (including journalists) and a handful of large corporations are joining the campaign in solidarity with marriage equality. The Sierra Club has opted to adopt the HRC avatar, and The Huffington Post has designed their own LGBT-friendly logo to observe the hearings.Such "avatar activism" has been the subject of criticism in the past: in 2009, a flurry of green Twitter avatars did little to aid protests in Tehran – in fact, the social media activism may have actually made things worse for the protesters – but thousands of individuals (including journalists) and a handful of large corporations are joining the campaign in solidarity with marriage equality. The Sierra Club has opted to adopt the HRC avatar, and The Huffington Post has designed their own LGBT-friendly logo to observe the hearings.
Is avatar activism effective?Is avatar activism effective?
Tell is in the comments below or answer in this poll – so far, more than half of our readers say no.Tell is in the comments below or answer in this poll – so far, more than half of our readers say no.
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