Youth, activism and social impact : a Maltese context

Abstract

With the rise of social media over recent years, there has been much debate as to whether these platforms are effective tools for virtual activism and for creating social impact. This research aims to establish the views of young people residing in Malta with regards to whether both virtual and physical forms of activism can have social impacts, as well as whether there has been a shift from physical to virtual activism. Online questionnaires that included questions in different formats were completed by 88 participants and the responses were then analysed using a quantitative method. The analysis found that both forms of activism are believed to create social impacts, however, virtual activism is noted to be much more accessible to individuals. Furthermore, it transpired that the most effective use of activism is when both forms of activism are used collaboratively. It was concluded that young people residing in Malta predominantly share the view that activism is an important part of both society in general as well as for the personal development of the individual, however, both forms of activism have their limitations. Furthermore, it was noted that whilst both have both positive and negative aspects, it was found that of the two forms, physical activism held more importance in terms of impact, as a standalone method. This research should be of interest to any individuals who work with young people, activists or members of civil society organisations.