The Terminology
Actions performed via the internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement.
Examples: Signing an online petition (without following up), changing a profile picture, sharing a meme.
When someone from a privileged group professes support for a marginalized group, but often does it to look good rather than to help.
Case Study: #BlackoutTuesday
The Black Square (2020)
In 2020, millions of people posted a black square on Instagram to support Black Lives Matter.
The Unintended Consequence: The flood of black squares actually hid important information because activists used the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag for safety updates, but the feed was clogged with empty black boxes.
🤔 Critical Thinking
Why might someone post a black square even if they don't do anything else to help?
Te Ao Māori: Ahikā vs. The Flash in the Pan
🔥 Ahikā (Burning Fires)
In Māori culture, Ahikā refers to the burning fires of occupation. It represents continuous presence and commitment to the land and people. You can't just show up once; you have to keep the fire burning.
Digital Connection: A "viral moment" is like a match—bright but fast. Real change is Ahikā—sustained, long-term work.
| Action | Is it Ahikā? (Sustained) | How to make it stronger? |
|---|---|---|
| Posting a hashtag | No (Fleeting) | Post the hashtag AND a link to a donation page or educational resource. |
| Sharing educational infographics | Maybe (Awareness) | Read the whole slide deck yourself first. Discuss it with whānau. |
| Organising a community meet-up via DM | Yes (Connection) | Ensure it happens regularly, not just once. |
Mahi: The Social Audit
Look at the last 3 "activist" posts you saw on your feed. Use the checklist:
📋 Teacher Planning Snapshot
Ngā Whāinga Ako — Learning Intentions
Students examine how digital technologies and social media are used as tools of activism — exploring power, participation, and the hīkoi tradition of Māori resistance to understand how communities organise for change in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Ngā Paearu Angitū — Success Criteria
- ✅ Can analyse how digital tools amplify or suppress activist voices, applying a tino rangatiratanga lens
- ✅ Identifies algorithmic bias and explains its impact on Māori, Pasifika, and marginalised communities
- ✅ Designs or evaluates a digital campaign using tikanga principles of manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga
Differentiation & Inclusion
Scaffold support: Use familiar social media examples as an entry point; provide a structured campaign analysis template. Extension tasks include researching Te Mana Raraunga, analysing algorithmic amplification data, or designing a full digital activism strategy.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach vocabulary (activism, algorithm, participation, sovereignty) with visual examples; use real NZ case studies to ground abstract concepts in accessible contexts.
Inclusion: Offer multiple formats for campaign design (visual, written, oral pitch); neurodiverse learners benefit from clear step-by-step planning frameworks and structured peer feedback protocols.
Mātauranga Māori lens: Hīkoi as the embodied tradition of collective action — digital activism as its contemporary form. Tikanga in digital spaces: protocols for respectful online engagement. Tino rangatiratanga frames the right to self-determined participation. Kaitiakitanga extends to protecting whānau and community data online.
Prior knowledge: Basic social media literacy; awareness of New Zealand social and political issues.
Curriculum alignment
- Digital Technologies — Level 4: Understand how digital technologies are used to create and share information, and the social implications of their use.
- Social Sciences — Level 4: Understand how people participate individually and collectively in response to community challenges.