Is online citizen media becoming a global movement? In the past years we have seen a rise in citizen and social media for free speech and political change that is characterized by the will of individuals to act. We’ve watched how small numbers of bloggers on all continents have mobilized large movements and new political behavior over time. What is the driving force behind this activity? And can these individual acts of online activism in countries that are far from each other together be considered a “global movement”?

Ivan Sigal and Solana Larsen help lead the online community Global Voices, which reports, translates and gives voice to online citizen media all around the world. Over the past six years, Global Voices has charted the global growth of blogging and social media activism, as it has blossomed into a significant force in narrating local events for global audiences, and directly influencing political and social change.