Malcolm Gladwell's 'Small Change' article was well supported with equal examples of the difference between activism with and without technology. The civil rights movement was a ground-breaking shift in human rights. It was a clear distinction between who was the oppressor and the oppressed. We knew who "belonged" and who didn't. And when you've been clawing your way to freedom in the dark trenches of society for so long, and you can see the blisters of banishment on your brothers, there comes a time to take a stand. True activism challenged the status quo at the risk of physical violence and ostracization. The thousands of individuals who participated in the boycotts, sit-ins and rallies are the ones who took that risk of being a target. A lot has changed in the last sixty years in regards to activism.

With the integration of information and access to any given person, we have opened the floodgates to networking. In the article it suggests that sites like Twitter and Facebook are responsible for numerous events that have started change. But the biggest difference I see with the cross-comparison is the issue of accountability. When you are behind a computer screen or some fancy phone, you are completely anonymous. Yes, you can still support a cause and express your views, but how much change are you ensuing? People nowadays are so eager to jump on the next bandwagon. If we're supporting starving children in Africa, these followers will quickly jump on board, send copious amounts of money to the cause and then feel philanthropic for being a part of something at large. Yet that doesn't build a connection to anything; you must have a personal connection to the movement you support. It's the difference between motivation and participation. These waves of trends motivate people to take part, but the part they play is insignificant and therefore doesn't have a lasting impact. There are no real sacrifices in social media weak ties.

When we challenge any socially entrenched norm we are risking our status, resources and safety. And in a day in age where those values are so highly prized, it is unlikely we will confront that dissonance. And by vocalizing our views on an anonymous venue we aren't really taking that moral, literal stance for what we believe in. There are so many issues at hand in our world today, and I do think that people genuinely want to help, but instead of sending pennies to Africa and Asia, why don't we start a little closer to home? What ever happened to going out into your community and getting your hands a little dirty? That 's where those personal connections begin. Working with other people, side by side for a higher purpose. If every community valued this kind of work ethic and accountability, we'd feel our purpose and strive to work together to make it a better place.