An example of digital activism happened this past week with the #GoogleWalkout, a world-wide walk out by more than 20,000 google employees that was sparked by the finding that Google paid off men accused of sexual harassment, including Android's Andy Rubin. Employees demanded an end to sexual harassment and discrimination as they stated they were tired of waiting for leadership to fix the problem. The
statement by one of the organizers also stated "
We are inspired by everyone from the women in fast food who led an action against sexual harassment to the thousands of women in the #metoo movement who have been the beginning of the end for this type of abuse."
The walkout did result in google saying they get rid of forced arbitration in sexual harassment and assault cases, but google did not address other demands such as structural racism in the company and unequal pay.
This shows how social media can be used to "amplify the ideologies of people who lack power" (as we discussed in class), in the case it gives google employees and contract workers a platform that can hold the CEO's accountable.
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