“Where is the Global South? Northern Visibilities in Digital Activism Research,”

We are thrilled to announce the publication of a new article by Dr. Suay Melisa Özkula, alongside Paul J. Reilly from the University of Glasgow: “Where is the Global South? Northern Visibilities in Digital Activism Research,” now published in Social Media + Society (2024).

In this systematic review, Dr. Özkula and Reilly investigate the geographic representation in digital activism studies. Analyzing 315 articles published between 1994 and 2018, their research highlights a significant dominance of Global North (GN) perspectives, especially from the United States. The Global South, however, remains underrepresented in much of the existing research on social media activism.

Their findings critically address the concept of “Northern Visibilities” and discuss how geopolitical imbalances continue to shape digital activism research. They also offer valuable recommendations on how to improve geographic inclusivity and promote more balanced research practices.

📄 Read the full article here:
Özkula, Suay Melisa & Reilly, Paul J. (2024). Where is the Global South? Northern Visibilities in Digital Activism Research.
Social Media + Society, 10(4).
🔗 DOI link to the publication