Media & Activism :: Online Assignment 1

Anonymous.
(Internet group.)

Examples of their activity:

1. (from Wikipedia)

A popular target for organized raids by Anonymous is Habbo, a popular social networking site designed as a virtual hotel. The first major raid, known as the "Great Habbo Raid of '06", occurred during 2006. In the raid (and most others that occur), users signed up to the Habbo site dressed in avatars of a black man wearing a grey suit and an Afro hairstyle (in style of Samuel L. Jackson in the movie Pulp Fiction) and blocked entry to the pool, declaring that it was "closed due to AIDS",, flooding the site with internet sayings, and forming swastika-like formations. When the raiders were banned, they complained of racism. In response, the Habbo admins often ban users with avatars matching the profile of the raiders even months after the latest raid.



2. (from Spotvilleradio.com)

The latest stunt from 4Chan was posting a bogus message on Oprah Winfrey’s website claiming to be a member of a secret pedophile group called “Pedobear”. The post claimed that there were “9000 penises” ready to commit acts against children. Oprah responded with a YouTube video calling awareness to the fictitious group. “Pedobear” is actually the name of a toy in a popular Japanese anime called, “Kodomo No Jikan”. A story about a school teacher who is constantly approached by an underaged girl.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2fiQcl7b0mQ



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Influence(s/d) media content and practices;

The Habbo and Oprah examples feature the group directly influencing/creating content within the websites/forums, and in the latter example, Oprah's video response.

With regards to practices, their actions may influence tighter administrators. For example, any users logging onto Habbo Hotel and making a character like that used in the Anonymous raid, were deleted even months after the attack.

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Advocate(s/d) for media policy/regulation reform;

Some of their activities serve as to hold a mirror up to media policy, others are just to cause trouble, or a stir. I think that the core members are out to make a point, and many have jumped on the bandwagon "for the lulz," and are responsible for the more offensive or dangerous attacks.

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Help(s/d) the evolution of an independent and participatory media;

It helps itself. Each prank draws attention to it's own cause. For better or for worse. It has also started a participatory campaign against Scientology.

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Change(s/d) the relationship of audience and media; and/or

Many of their "core" pranks open the audience's eyes to a media's faults, with the Oprah escapade bring a prime example.

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Use(s/d) the media to affect ideological changes in everyday contexts.

Anti scientology. Perhaps pointing out flaws for a safer cleaner internet, although this is as the cost of freedom of expression.