Thesis Abstract

This thesis investigates how youth house activists in Copenhagen use digital media for mobilisation and what significance this has for their fight for a new youth house. The ethnografic data collection is of both the activists’ use of digital media and their social practice from February 1st to April 15th, 2008.

The results are that the youth house activists use websites, chain text messages, social network sites and e-mail accounts for mobilisation. The meaning of their usage turns out to be both instrumental and symbolic. Through their use of digital media they achieve an efficient and intelligent way of spreading their message, as well as a flexible foundation for collective action, which is closely tied together with their identity and the cultural context at large. In addition the types of collective actions determine whether or not there is synergy between different types of digital media or not. Likewise the different types have an influence on the relationship between offline meeting activities and the digital media.

The thesis concludes that digital media – especially chain text messages – plays a unique part in the mobilisation of youth house activists, and that there is a new culture of mobilisation emerging.