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The goal of this introduction is to provide a framework for thinking
about digital activism. We begin by identifying the infrastructure,
economic, social, and political factors that define the environment
in which digital activists operate. Next, we discuss activism practices
themselves, both how they are currently understood in the
narrative form of case study and how they might be codified in
the future as foundational knowledge. Finally, we lay out the range
of opinions on the value of digital activism and explain why determining
value conclusively is still difficult. In this Introduction,
we will discuss both what is known and what is unknown about
digital activism—the mechanics of which are just beginning to be
understood.