PROFILE: Revisiting the social movement society in a time of datafication

ABSTRACT

Revisiting the concept of the social movement society, we see the development of new media and datafication creating unanticipated challenges and constraints, in effect, new and different opportunities. The wired world reduces the costs of spreading information and mobilizing action, but also creates additional risks. I review the premises and blindspots of the ‘social movement society’ hypothesis, initially offered by David S. Meyer and Sidney Tarrow,’ and then consider how new technologies affect strategies and possibilities for activists, as well as stakes and targets of activists. The conclusion raises issues of inequality and representation.

KEYWORDS:

• Social movement society
• datafication
• media
• democracy
• inequality
• epistemic ecosystem

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David S. Meyer

David S. Meyer is a professor of Sociology and Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. He writes mostly about social movements, social change, and public policy. His most recent book is How Social Movements (Sometimes) Matter (Wiley).