Key Concepts
What is settler-colonialism?
A system of oppression based on colonialism aims to displace a population and replace it with a new settler population
What are Indigenous Australian's increasingly using to challenge colonial oppression?
Social Media
What is Distortion Bias?
concerned with the distortion or falsification of realities. In the media, this may be the repetition of infrequent negative events, leading to a consensus that they occur more than they actually do
What does BLM stand for?
Black Lives Matter
What is social media?
internet-based platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, where users create and share content, interact with others, and build online communities
What is digital colonialism?
describes the misrepresentation of Indigenous people in digital spaces
Name two Indigenous-led media outlets
- NITV
- Imparja TV
- Koori Radio
What is content bias?
partial or selective prioritisation of one perspective, creating a narrow representation of events.
What was #IndigenousDads about?
it celebrates Indigenous fathers and challenges racial paternal stereotypes that reflect a white colonial gaze
What is slacktivism?
Slacktivism describes online activities that give the illusion of impact and demand little time and engagement
What is the colonial algorithm?
describes the digital systems that perpetuate colonial narratives and marginalize Indigenous voices
What is the Great Australian Silence?
The national reluctance to confront colonisation. Described by William Stanner this reluctance continues to silence Indigenous histories in public discourse
What is Decision Making Bias?
the editorial decisions, mindsets, and motivations of those in control of the media representation. For example, the political stance of a news organisation will affect the perspective in which they write their stories
What is #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIA
This hashtag responded to the planned closure of 150 remote Aboriginal communities in WA
What does Neoliberalism promote?
individualism and market-driver recognition, encouraging people to demonstrate care through quick, visible signs instead of engaging in collective, structural change
What is digital sovereignty?
describes the reclaiming of digital space by Indigenous users
Name two hashtags that challenged the colonial narrative online
- #SOSBLAKAUSTRALIA
- #Indigenousdads
- #IHMayDay
What are filter bubbles?
According to Burbach, filter bubbles are where “personalisation algorithms ensure that users only see certain content depending on their preferences and thus limit the diversity of opinions that are visible to the users.Users often do not notice this and are not made aware of it either.”
What was #BlackoutTuesday?
The 2020 social media trend saw millions post black squares to signal solidarity to the BLM movement
- recognising distinctions within users' actions on the digital sphere
- following Indigenous perspective and voice
- supporting campaigns in ways that make effective systemic change to disrupt colonial systems rather than just resorting to symbolic gestures
What is bias?
the inclination or preference for or against an idea, person, or group, often leading to unfair or inaccurate judgments, decisions, or outcomes
What is Indigenous Authorship?
The enabling of Indigenous communities to reclaim narratives by offering an unedited perspective. Platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram help.
What is the risk of filter bubbles and echo chambers?
- They assist in reinforcing Entman’s three forms of bias
- allows slacktivism to occur
- reinforce the colonial hierarchies that shape how Indigenous people are represented.
What is the risk of using hashtags, likes and reposts?
Whilst they can amplify Indigenous voices, they can also be distorted and transformed into simplified gestures that benefit the algorithm more than the community, and thus, inherently affirms the colonial agenda
What does Neoliberalism risk in digital activism?
It reinforces Online slacktivism.
- replicates the same dynamic: visibility without power and recognition without redistribution