Using Twitter to mobilize protest action: online mobilization patterns and action repertoires in the Occupy Wall Street, Indignados, and Aganaktismenoi movements

Theocharis, Yannis; Lowe, Will; van Deth, Jan W.; García-Albacete, Gema

doi:10.1080/1369118x.2014.948035

Cited by 504Social Media and PoliticsPolitical and Social IssuesMedia Studies and Communication

Using Twitter to mobilize protest action: online mobilization patterns and action repertoires in the Occupy Wall Street, Indignados, and Aganaktismenoi movements

Theocharis, Yannis, Lowe, Will, van Deth, Jan W., García-Albacete, Gema·2015·Information, Communication & Society

DOI 10.1080/1369118x.2014.948035

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Abstract

The extensive use of social media for protest purposes was a distinctive feature of the recent protest events in Spain, Greece, and the United States. Like the Occupy Wall Street protesters in the United States, the indignant activists of Spain and Greece protested against unjust, unequal, and corrupt political and economic institutions marked by the arrogance of those in power. Social media can potentially change or contribute to the political communication, mobilization, and organization of social movements. To what extent did these three movements use social media in such ways? To answer this question a comparative content analysis of tweets sent during the heydays of each of the campaigns is conducted. The results indicate that, although Twitter was used significantly for political discussion and to communicate protest information, calls for participation were not predominant. Only a very small minority of tweets referred to protest organization and coordination issues. Furthermore, comparing the actual content of the Twitter information exchanges reveals similarities as well as differences among the three movements, which can be explained by the different national contexts.

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Authors: Theocharis, Y., Lowe, W., van Deth, J. W., & García-Albacete, G.
Affiliations: University of Mannheim (DE)
Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (ES)
Corresponding author: Theocharis, Yannis
ORCID: Theocharis, Yannis
Lowe, Will
García-Albacete, Gema
Venue: Information, Communication & Society
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Published: 2014-08-12
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
Pages: 202-220
ISSN: 1369-118X (ISSN-L)
1468-4462
DOI: 10.1080/1369118x.2014.948035
OpenAlex: W1987561338
Cited by: 504
References: 83
Citations by year: 2026: 16 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 24 · 2023: 57 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 63 · 2020: 95 · 2019: 42 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 35 · 2016: 39 · 2015: 21
FWCI: 92.99
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Information Communication & Society (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Communication › Social Media and Politics
Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political and Social Issues
Social Sciences › Communication › Media Studies and Communication
Keywords: Twitter, social media, protest mobilization, Occupy Wall Street, Indignados, social movements, repertoires of action, political communication, protest organization

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Using Twitter to mobilize protest action: online mobilization patterns and action repertoires in the Occupy Wall Street, Indignados, and Aganaktismenoi movements

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