Thrilled to share that for the third consecutive year, we're organizing a preconference on digital activism at the International Communication Association Conference 2026.
Digital activism is often celebrated for its potential to amplify marginalized voices, lower participation barriers, and mobilize communities across geographical boundaries. Yet, this optimistic narrative conceals persistent-and, increasingly, widening-inequalities in who participates, whose voices are heard, and which causes gain traction. This preconference seeks to uncover and critically examine the layered inequalities that determine why some voices-rather than others-resonate in the digital sphere. We call for a shift in scholarly and policy debates: away from simplistic measures of access, toward a deeper analysis of structural and technological barriers that govern participation, visibility, and influence in networked movements. Particular emphasis would also be placed on comparative perspectives-across different national, cultural, and platform contexts-to explore how varying socioeconomic structures, policy environments, and technological ecosystems produce distinct patterns of inclusion and exclusion in digital activism.
We seek original, rigorous, and innovative contributions that critically examine the dynamics, opportunities, and inequalities shaping digital activism in contemporary contexts. Submissions may adopt theoretical frameworks or be grounded in empirical investigations, addressing questions of participation, visibility, and influence in networked movements. We particularly welcome work that:
- Explores lesser-studied activist movements, platforms, or issues.
- Investigates how platform design, governance, and algorithmic systems affect the reach and impact of activist communication.
- Engages with activism involving minority groups, contentious actors, or communities in the Global South.
- Brings forward perspectives and contributions from practitioners, activists, and affected communities.
Call for abstracts
Abstracts of 400-600 words (excluding references) must be sent to activism.preconf@gmail.com by 31 December 2025. Please include author names, affiliations, contact information of the submitter, and a brief sentence on how the submission addresses the CfA.
We strongly encourage submissions from early-career scholars and advanced PhD students, as well as interdisciplinary collaborations.
Timeline
Deadline for abstract submission: 31 December 2025
Acceptance notifications: 15 February 2026
Deadline for registration (Registration fee: 50 USD): 15 March 2026
Preconference: 3 June 2026
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Jun Liu
Associate Professor
U of Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Denmark
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