Case Studies — Mobiles

Mobile phones can be powerful tools for activism and social change. They are becoming so prevalent that some countries - especially in the developing world - have more mobile phone subscribers than people with access to proper sanitation. It was recently estimated that there are 5 billion mobile subscriptions worldwide!

The Movements.org case study series identifies and evaluates campaigns that have harnessed technology for social change in their communities or that have demonstrated degree of success that others could learn from. Think you or someone you know should be featured?! Share your work here.

Syrian Boycott of Mobile Telecoms

Posted by Taylor Berry in Blogging, Build Awareness , Middle East & North Africa, Mobiles, Mobilize, Social Networking, Facebook

Through repeated boycotts organized via Facebook, Syrian activists helped bring change to the exploitative cell phone industry.
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Ahmed Salah and Egyptian Revolution

Posted by Matt Mulberry in Build Awareness , Collaborate, Plan and Strategize, Middle East & North Africa, Mobiles, Mobilize, Social Networking, Facebook, Twitter

What factors led to a revolutionary tipping point while keeping Egyptian activists connected, safe, and maintaining nonviolence?
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Using SMS Mass Messaging to Raise Money for Flood Relief in Pakistan

Posted by Umme Kulsoom in Emergency Response, Fundraising, Middle East & North Africa, Mobiles, SMS, Social Networking, Facebook, Online Video, YouTube

Umme Kulsoom raised 0.7 million Pakistani rupees and gathered clothes for 500 people using an SMS campaign after massive floods.
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Mobile Giving for Haiti

Posted by Brannon Cullum in Moderately Wired, Very Wired, Fundraising, Mobiles, North America

mGive allowed over 2 million people to make "technological history" by donating to Haiti relief following the 2010 earthquake.
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Documenting Fraud in Afghan Elections

Posted by Brannon Cullum in Citizen Media, Civic Engagement, Document Information, Poorly Wired, Election Monitoring, Mobiles, SMS, Ushahidi

Alive in Afghanistan empowers Afghani civil society groups and citizens to report on Afghani elections for themselves.
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Anti-Japan Protests in China

Posted by Brannon Cullum in Asia, Moderately Wired, Not Free, Mobiles, SMS

Despite a ban on political organizing, Chinese citizens were successful in coordinating protests against Japan in 2005.
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How SMS Swung a Parliamentary Election in Spain

Posted by Brannon Cullum in Free, Very Wired, Mobiles, SMS, Western Europe

Spaniards, wary of a government cover-up of the Madrid train bombings, quickly organized and altered the direction of elections.
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People Power II in the Philippines

Posted by Brannon Cullum in Asia, Moderately Wired, Partly Free, Mobiles, Smart Mob, SMS

Outraged by corrupt leadership, thousands of Filipinos responded to text messages calling for action and took to the streets.
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The Orange Revolution in Ukraine

Posted by Susannah Vila in Eastern Europe, Mobiles, SMS, Mobilize, Social Networking

When Ukrainian citizens suspected election fraud, pro-democracy groups organized to pressure the government.
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