Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweetd

Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted In his article, “Small Change: Why the revolution will not be tweeted”, Malcolm Gladwell offers harsh critiques of the superficial relationship between social media and social change. Gladwell writes, “social media cannot provide what social change requires” (Gladwell, 315). Gladwell argues that social change requires “strong ties” and “a level of hierarchy organization” in which social media, comprised of networks built of “weak ties”, cannot support. Gladwell makes compelling arguments that most are willing to agree with. However, Gladwells arguments present two options, “strong ties” vs. “weak ties” and “hierarchy organizations” vs. “networks”, giving the impression that only one of the options may be the case, never both. Whether or not it’s “strong ties” or “weak ties” , “hierarchy organizations” or “networks”, social change requirements should be based on endless options. As long as all options are exhausted, the goal of effective social change can be reached. As Gladwell emphasizes the value in “strong ties” he also belittles the value in “weak ties”. According to Gladwell, “The platforms of social media are built around weak-ties” (Gladwell, 319). In understanding Gladwell’s argument of “strong-ties”, he reveals a pattern that shows up over and over again in social changes throughout history. In his example of the four African-American college boys of the Greensboro sit-ins, Gladwell emphasizes their “strong-tie” relationship stemming from being friends in high school and buddies in the dorms at A. & T. College. Gladwell writes, “the more friends you had who were critical to the regime the more likely you were to join the protest” (Gladwell, 319). Gladwells argument of social activism benefiting from “strong ties” is understandable. There is always going to be that inner core of tightly bound people, nothing happens without “strong ties”. However, nothing spreads without “weak ties”.