Electronic advocacy (also known as cyber-activism, online organizing, and internet activism) is an emerging social work practice in which technologies such as email, web sites, and podcasts are used for cause-related fundraising, lobbying, volunteering, community building, and organizing. What sets electronic advocacy apart from other forms of advocacy is the use of high technology (New Media and other forms of sophisticated information and communications technology) to changing public policy.

Electronic advocacy has emerged from a curiosity in the early 1990s, to a viable tool in the mid 1990s to the early 2000s, to an expected part of advocacy efforts. Sophisticated technology defines the leading edge of electronic advocacy, but many efforts are conducted with simple e-mail, discussion list and website strategies.

There are two critical subcomponents of electronic advocacy: the technologies that are used and the social practices that make them effective in an advocacy situation. Technologies include a broad range of possibilities, from simple techniques like e-mail and websites to complex technologies, such as geographic information systems and comprehensive advocacy suites. The social practices are the ways that these technologies (which were mostly developed for other purposes) are adapted for advocacy efforts such as organizing, lobbying, fundraising and so forth.

External links

• The Citizens Handbook
• Electronic Advocacy email distribution list
• John G. McNutt's electronic advocacy web site
• Smygo News & Views for Anarchists & Activists.
• Video clip about online activism

Nonprofit technology | Politics and technology | Technology in society | Information technology | Electronic advocacy | Community organizing