Rethinking mobile media tactics in protests: A comparative case study of Hong Kong and Malawi

This chapter examines two case studies–the Umbrella Revolution in Hong Kong, and the July 20th protest in Malawi—to explore whether and how political activism through smartphone dissent networks enhances civic engagement. By probing the vitality, potentiality and ability of new communication and technological changes driving online civil action across the African continent, we explore what lessons countries can take from digitally-negotiated civil disobedience protests. The chapter will also discuss and theorize mobile media activism within social and geo-political realms, analyzing specific cases from Asia about the extent to which they have implications for understanding the changing dynamics of mobile media activism in sub-Saharan Africa. This chapter enriches and adds new dimensions to the current debates on the role of mobile media in political activism in a comparative light

The Dual Role of Media Internalization in Adolescent Sexual Behavior

Sexualizing media content is prevalent in various media types. Sexualizing media messages and portrayals emphasize unattainable body and appearance ideals as the primary components of sexual desirability. The internalization of these ideals is positively related to self-objectification and sexual body consciousness. In turn, self-objectification and sexual body consciousness affect adolescents’ sexual behavior, albeit in opposing directions. While objectifying self-perceptions are linked to higher levels of sexual behavior, body consciousness during physical intimacy is linked to lower levels of sexual behavior. Based on this knowledge, the present three-wave panel study of 824 Belgian, predominant heterosexual adolescents (Mage = 15.33; SD = 1.45) proposes a dual-pathway model that investigates two different pathways through which the internalization of media ideals may impact adolescents’ sexual behavior. An inhibitory pathway links media internalization to lower levels of sexual behavior through sexual body consciousness, and a supportive pathway links media internalization to higher levels of sexual behavior through self-objectification. Structural equation analyses supported the proposed dual-pathway, showing that the impact of media internalization on adolescents’ sexual behavior proceeds through an inhibitory pathway and a supportive pathway. Regarding the supportive pathway, media internalization (W1) positively predicted sexual behavior (W3), through valuing appearance over competence (W2). Regarding the inhibitory pathway, media internalization (W1) positively predicted body surveillance, which, in turn, positively predicted sexual body consciousness (all W2). Sexual body consciousness (W2) is negatively related to sexual behavior (W3). From a sexual developmental perspective, these findings emphasize the importance of guiding adolescents in interpreting and processing sexualizing media messages