{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,14]],"date-time":"2026-05-14T07:21:34Z","timestamp":1778743294196,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":56,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,30]],"date-time":"2024-07-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1722297600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100001825","name":"Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["0163-00034B"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["0163-00034B"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100001825","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Independent Research Fund Denmark","award":["0163-00034B"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["0163-00034B"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["New Media &amp; Society"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>This article examines how social movement actors understand the role of social media in their activism. Concerns about commercialisation, individualisation and surveillance have replaced much optimism about the potential of social media for progressive activism. Therefore, we examine social movement actors\u2019 theories and assumptions about social media, focusing on climate activism and criticism of unsustainable corporate practices. Theoretically, we draw on social imaginaries to develop the concept of media practices to consist of three dimensions: doing, knowing and assuming. Empirically, we draw on interviews with media and communication managers from the climate movement, including Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion and the World Wildlife Foundation. We show that social movement actors\u2019 media practices are characterised by theories of faking power, optimising power and conceding to power, which are underpinned by a social media imaginary of commercial logics.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/14614448241266769","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,30]],"date-time":"2024-07-30T07:15:52Z","timestamp":1722323752000},"page":"6233-6251","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Faking, optimising and conceding to power: Social movement understandings of social media power"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-7839-3809","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Irene","family":"Blum","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Copenhagen Business School, Denmark"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2048-5933","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Julie","family":"Uldam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Copenhagen Business School, Denmark"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_3_4_2_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/14614448221132241"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_3_1","volume-title":"Understanding Alternative Media","author":"Bailey O","year":"2007","unstructured":"Bailey O, Cammaerts B, Carpentier N (2007) Understanding Alternative Media. Maidenhead: Open University Press."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_4_1","volume-title":"The Political Mind and the Political Environment","author":"Bennett WL","year":"1975","unstructured":"Bennett WL (1975) The Political Mind and the Political Environment. Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath & Co."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_5_1","first-page":"17","volume-title":"Contesting Media Power","author":"Bennett WL","year":"2003","unstructured":"Bennett WL (2003) New media power: the internet and global activism. In: Couldry N, Curran J (eds) Contesting Media Power. Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield, pp. 17\u201337."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_6_1","volume-title":"Communicating the Future: Solutions for Environment, Economy and Democracy","author":"Bennett WL","year":"2020","unstructured":"Bennett WL (2020) Communicating the Future: Solutions for Environment, Economy and Democracy. Cambridge: Polity Press."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_7_1","volume-title":"Association of media and communication researchers in Denmark, 2024 conference \u2018Media (and) sustainability: Crises, paradoxes, and potentials\u2019","author":"Blum I","year":"2024","unstructured":"Blum I (2024) \u2018Facebook made themselves irrelevant for us\u2019: Social movement actors and social media affordances. In: Association of media and communication researchers in Denmark, 2024 conference \u2018Media (and) sustainability: Crises, paradoxes, and potentials\u2019, Copenhagen, Denmark, 2\u20133 May 2024."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1369118X.2016.1154086"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.17813\/1086-671X-26-3-343"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_10_1","first-page":"135","article-title":"Digital platform policy and regulation: toward a radical democratic turn","volume":"14","author":"Cammaerts B","year":"2020","unstructured":"Cammaerts B, Mansell R (2020) Digital platform policy and regulation: toward a radical democratic turn. International Journal of Communication 14: 135\u2013154.","journal-title":"International Journal of Communication"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1075\/jlp.6.2.08car"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_12_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1035033042000238295"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_13_1","volume-title":"Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media Practice","author":"Couldry N","year":"2012","unstructured":"Couldry N (2012) Media, Society, World: Social Theory and Digital Media Practice. Cambridge: Polity Press."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/135485659800400108"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_15_1","first-page":"123","volume-title":"Misunderstanding the Internet","author":"Fenton N","year":"2012","unstructured":"Fenton N (2012) The Internet and social networking. In: Curran J, Fenton N, Freedman D (2012) Misunderstanding the Internet. New York: Routledge, pp. 123\u2013148."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_16_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1369118X.2015.1109698"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_17_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444814552264"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_18_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444809342738"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_19_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1094428112452151"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_20_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0170840617751006"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_21_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444820929319"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_22_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s11024-009-9124-4"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_23_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-38238-4"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_24_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1369118X.2015.1043318"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_25_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/ct\/qtaa025"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_26_1","unstructured":"Kavada A Askanius T Kaun A et al (2023) Tying up Goliath: activist strategies for confronting and harnessing digital power. Transnational Institute. Available at: https:\/\/www.tni.org\/en\/article\/tying-up-goliath"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_27_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444820929316"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_28_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2053951718821146"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_29_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0163443719855301"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_30_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/20539517231163173"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_31_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444820929321"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_32_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0893318919897059"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_33_1","volume-title":"Imagining the Internet: Communication, Innovation, and Governance","author":"Mansell R","year":"2012","unstructured":"Mansell R (2012) Imagining the Internet: Communication, Innovation, and Governance. Oxford: Oxford University Press."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_34_1","first-page":"112","volume-title":"Technology, Media and Social Movements","author":"Mattoni A","year":"2019","unstructured":"Mattoni A (2019) A situated understanding of digital technologies in social movements. Media ecology and media practice approaches. In: Fominaya C, Gillan K (eds) Technology, Media and Social Movements. London: Routledge, pp. 112\u2013123."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_35_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/comt.12038"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_36_1","first-page":"619","article-title":"Theorizing \u2018lay theories of media\u2019: a case study of the dissent! Network at the 2005 Gleneagles G8 Summit","volume":"5","author":"McCurdy P","year":"2011","unstructured":"McCurdy P (2011) Theorizing \u2018lay theories of media\u2019: a case study of the dissent! Network at the 2005 Gleneagles G8 Summit. International Journal of Communication 5: 619\u2013638.","journal-title":"International Journal of Communication"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_37_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/j.ctv36xw3km.7"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_38_1","first-page":"429","volume-title":"The Routledge Companion to Mobile Media","author":"Monterde A","year":"2014","unstructured":"Monterde A, Postill J (2014) Mobile ensembles: the uses of mobile phones for social protest by Spain\u2019s indignados. In: Goggin G, Hjort L (eds) The Routledge Companion to Mobile Media. New York: Routledge, pp. 429\u2013438."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_39_1","volume-title":"On the Political","author":"Mouffe C","year":"2005","unstructured":"Mouffe C (2005) On the Political. New York: Routledge."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_40_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444818770602"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_41_1","volume-title":"Storytelling Online: Talking Breast Cancer on the Internet","author":"Orgad S","year":"2005","unstructured":"Orgad S (2005) Storytelling Online: Talking Breast Cancer on the Internet. New York: Peter Lang."},{"key":"e_1_3_4_42_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/1461670X.2020.1808516"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_43_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/CBO9780511527470"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_44_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/20563051221077025"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_45_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/2053951720923377"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_46_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1215\/08992363-14-1-91"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_47_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1215\/9780822385806"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_48_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/joc\/jqy009"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_49_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444814541526"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_50_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/2158379X.2019.1624058"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_51_1","unstructured":"Uldam J Askanius T (2020) COVID-19 and online activism: a momentum for radical change? E-International Relations. Available at: https:\/\/www.e-ir.info\/2020\/08\/21\/covid-19-and-online-climate-activism-a-momentum-for-radical-change\/#:~:text=When%20the%20gravity%20and%20magnitude protest%20events%20to%20the%20social"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_52_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4324\/9781315107066-8"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_53_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/soc4.12081"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_54_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.17645\/mac.v1i1.70"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_55_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10551-013-2002-x"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_56_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.worlddev.2021.105447"},{"key":"e_1_3_4_57_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0163443720972314"}],"container-title":["New Media &amp; Society"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/14614448241266769","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/14614448241266769","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/14614448241266769","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,2]],"date-time":"2026-05-02T04:02:17Z","timestamp":1777694537000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/14614448241266769"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,30]]},"references-count":56,"journal-issue":{"issue":"11","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,11]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/14614448241266769"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/14614448241266769","relation":{},"ISSN":["1461-4448","1461-7315"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1461-4448","type":"print"},{"value":"1461-7315","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,30]]}}}