Selected Papers of Internet Research 16: 
The 16th Annual Meeting of the 

Association of Internet Researchers 
Phoenix, AZ, USA / 21-24 October 2015

IMAGINING&SOCIAL&JUSTICE&THROUGH&THE&INTERNET&AND&
BEYOND&

Anna(Lauren(Hoffmann((moderator)(
University(of(California,(Berkeley(
(
From(scholarly(discussions(to(mainstream(publications,(there(is(a(growing(
understanding(that(theoretical,(largely(academic(conceptions(of(social(justice(are(in(
many(ways(disconnected(from(the(people,(practices,(and(projects(actively(pursuing(
justice(today.(At(the(same(time,(concepts(with(rich(theoretical(histories(have(emerged(
as(key(terms(and(battleground(ideas(for(discussions(of(social(justice(online—including,(
for(example,(renewed(discussions(of(feminism,(social(and(economic(class,(
intersectionality,(and(familiar(liberal(ideals(of(liberty(and(equality.(In(an(effort(to(
overcome(the(distance(between(social(justice(as(a(target(of(scholarly(inquiry(and(the(
real(concerns(of(social(justice(movements,(contributions(to(this(panel(critically(engage(
issues(of(social(justice(both(within(and(across(different(applied(online(contexts(and(
practices.(They(articulate(various(possibilities(and(limits(for(imagining(a(more(just(world(
through(the(communicative(and(political(affordances(of(the(Internet(and(other(advanced(
information(and(communication(technologies((ICTs).(
(
In(the(first(paper,(the(experiences(of(women(bloggers(are(marshaled(to(challenge(
established(theories(of(the(public(sphere(that(might(otherwise(fail(to(account(for(the(
voices(of(those(writing(about(the(politics(of(women,(family(and(maternity.(In(doing(so,(
we(are(encouraged(to(imagine(more(broadly(inclusive(democratic(debates.(In(the(
second(paper,(the(idea(of(the(“social(justice(warrior”—a(term(that(has(emerged(online(
as(a(way(to(marginalize(individuals(deemed(excessive(in(their(pursuit(of(inclusion(and(
represetnation—and(its(implications(for(social(justice(discourse(broadly(are(discussed.(
In(this(case,(we(are(presented(with(an(example(of(hegemonic(resistance(to(expressions(
and(imaginaries(of(justice(enabled(by(the(affordances(of(certain(online(platforms(for(
political(and(progressive(expression.(
(
In(the(remaining(papers,(established(political(frames(for(addressing(injustice(are(
critiqued(and(countered.(In(the(third(paper,(the(appeal(by(both(activists(and(academics(
to(discourses(familiar(to(the(liberal(democratic(state—including(rights(and(liberties—is(
challenged(and(shown(to(limit(our(collective(imaginaries(of(social(justice(online.(In(the((
( (



final(paper,(neoliberal(policies(of(privatization,(gentrification,(and(dataAdriven(“smart(
urbanism”(and(their(failure(to(improve(or(respond(to(local(injustices(faced(by(
marginalized(citizens((specifically(black(and(brown(youth)(are(laid(bare.(The(author—
drawing(on(the(successes(and(failures(of(four(different(“smart”(initiatives(in(the(New(
York(City(area—responds(by(developing(an(alternative(framework(grounded(not(in(
quantitative(analyses(but,(rather,(in(empathy(and(qualitative(study.(
(
Combined,(these(papers(explore(some(of(the(ways(in(which(theoretical(and(empirical(
scholarly(investigations(can(open(up(new(paths(for(thinking(about(social(justice(with(
regard(to(platforms,(communities,(or(practices—online(and(beyond.(They(attend(to(the(
ways(in(which(broader(conversations(or(movements—for(example,(those(oriented(
around(the(efforts(of(Western(women(bloggers,(rightsAbased(liberatory(language,(or(
resistance(to(“smart”(urban(policies—challenge(or(force(us(to(reconsider(the(ways(in(
which(we(conceive(of(and(discuss(values(relevant(to(social(justice,(like(inclusion,(
fairness,(and(equality.(
(
Finally,(the(panel(members(all(share(an(awareness(of(the(fact(that(this(panel(is(
articulated(in(a(way(familiar(to(those(embedded(in(an(academic(or(researchAintensive(
context.(We(recognize(that(any(conversation(about(social(justice(issues(online(is(
incomplete(without(the(inclusion(of(a(wider(range(of(voices,(from(activists(to(organizers(
to(advocates.(To(that(end,(we(intend(this(panel(as(one(part(of(a(larger(series(of(
proposed(sessions(engaging(social(justice(issues(and(the(Internet,(some(of(which(go(
beyond(traditional(academic(frameworks.(Here,(however,(we(use(the(standard(“panel(of(
papers”(frame(in(an(effort(to(show(how(even(conventional(formats(can(generate(
productive(or(liberatory(discussions.(Ultimately,(it(is(our(position(that(more(
conversations—within(and(across(various(contexts—are(better(than(fewer(when(
confronting(pressing(issues(of(discrimination,(bias,(fairness,(and(equality(today. 
 
 
& &



THE&HAPHAZARD&DEMOCRATIC&POTENTIAL&OF&SOCIAL&MEDIA&
&
Stine(Eckert(
Wayne(State(University&&
(
This(paper(examined(the(experiences(of(109(women(with(varying(backgrounds(who(
blog(or(write(online(about(the(politics(of(women,(family(and(maternity(in(the(United(
States,(the(United(Kingdom,(Germany(and(Switzerland.(Based(on(the(concepts(of(
minimal(politics((Macgilchrist(&(Böhmig,(2012d(Marchart,(2011),(it(argues(that(a(broader(
definition(of(what(counts(as(political(needs(to(be(applied(to(the(voices(of(women(online(
to(capture(their(political(expressions(in(Western(democracies.(An(analysis(of(inAdepth(
interviews(found(that(84(percent(of(interviewees(considered(their(blogging(to(be(political.(
A(statistically(significant(relationship(was(found(to(exist(between(women(
bloggers/writers(online(who(identified(as(feminist(and(who(considered(their(blogging(to(
be(political.(Rather(than(categorizing(the(personal(styles(of(women(who(blog/write(
online((in(and(outside(my(sample)(as(“just”(“personal(journaling,”(the(fluidity(of(topics(
they(address(needs(to(be(recognized(as(a(feature(of(fluid(public(clusters(online,(which(
are(tied(to(their(lives(offline.((
(
Hence,(this(paper(argues(that(it(is(necessary(to(amend(the(critical(theories(of(public(
spheres((Felski,(1989d(Fraser,(1990d(Gitlin,(1998d(Squires,(2002)(to(capture(the(political(
expressions(and(experiences(of(women(who(use(social(media(to(write(about(their(
concerns(publicly.(This(study(suggests(a(new(theory(of(fluid(public(clusters.(This(new(
theory(expands(on(the(idea(of(a(multitude(of(publics(rather(than(the(oftenAcriticized(
singularity(of(the(original(Habermasian(public(sphere.(It(emphasizes(that(publics(are(
messy,(overlapping(and(changing(over(time.(It(also(highlights(that(offline(social(
hierarchies(of(power(and(identities(migrate(online.((
(
Further,(this(paper(concludes(that(national(contexts(shape(the(expressions(of(women(
bloggers/writers(online(and(that(these(were(particularly(apparent(in(the(fluid(public(
clusters(that(were(salient(in(each(country.(One(key(finding(was(that(Switzerland(differed(
significantly(from(the(United(States,(the(United(Kingdom(and(Germany.(In(the(latter(
three(countries(women(–(across(a(wide(variety(of(backgrounds(–(women(have((or(at(
least(are(not(denied)(ample(opportunities(to(make(their(voices(heard.(In(Switzerland,(
women’s(voices(online(have(been(constrained(in(number(and(range(of(perspectives(to(
center(around(traditional(understandings(of(motherhood(while(feminist/progressive(
views(remain(rare.(
(
While(73(percent(of(interviewees(said(they(had(negative(experiences(due(to(
blogging/writing(online,(all(109(interviewees(said(they(had(at(least(one(positive(
experience(due(to(blogging/writing(online.(These(included(personal,(professional(and,(in(
some(cases,(also(commercial(benefits.(Interviewees(cherished(having(a(digital(room(of(
their(own(to(write(what(they(want(in(a(space(for(which(they(set(the(rules.(Interviewees(
dealt(with(negative(experiences(mostly(on(a(personal(level,(as(police,(state(and(
lawmakers(have(been(slow(in(recognizing(and(prosecuting(online(discrimination(and(
abuse(leveled(against(women.(Positive(experiences(are(nearly(guaranteed(but(negative(
interactions(remain(and(are(more(likely(to(happen(to(women(who(identify(as(feminists(
and/or(say(that(their(writing(is(political.(SeventyAtwo(percent(of(interviewees(remained(



skeptical(about(the(democratic(potential(of(social(media.(Most(interviewees(had(
concerns(about(internet(access,(internet(literacy,(online(harassment(and(which(voices(
get(heard(or(amplified.(Yet,(interviewees(also(shared(examples(of(starting(or(
contributing(to((national)(public(debates(over(issues(of(their(concern.(The(democratic(
potential(of(social(remains(haphazard.((
(
Finally,(this(paper(argues(that(women(–(who(have(been(underArepresented(and(
misrepresented(in((news)(media(content(and(production(in(Switzerland(((Pfenniger,(
2011d(Zaslawski,(2013),(in(Germany((ProQuote,(2014),(in(the(United(Kingdom(
(Cochrane,(2011)(and(in(the(United(States((Everbach,(2014d(Women’s(Media(Center,(
2014)(–(need(to(keep(blogging,(tweeting(and(writing(online.(By(doing(so,(women(will(tap(
into(the(haphazard(democratic(potential(of(social(media.(This(will(make(Western(
democracies(more(democratic.(Given(the(current(lack(of(legal(and(societal(support(to(
properly(and(comprehensively(address(and(penalize(online(harassment((Citron,(2014),(
this(paper(also(offers(recommendations(to(women(on(managing(blogs/sites((safely)(to(
encourage(women(to(start(and(keep(on(blogging(and(addressing(their(concerns(via(
social(media.(
(
References&
(
Citron,(D.(K.((2014).(Hate&crimes&in&cyberspace.(Cambridge,(MA:(Harvard(University(
Press.(
(
Cochrane,(K.((2011).(Why&is&British&public&life&dominated&by&men?(Women(in(
Journalism.(Retrieved(from(http://womeninjournalism.co.uk/whyAisAbritishApublicAlifeA
dominatedAbyAmen/(
(
Everbach,(T.((2014).(Women’s((mis)(representation(in(news(media.(In(Armstrong,(C.(
(Ed.),(Media&disparity:&a&gender&battleground((pp.(3A14).(Lanham,(MD:(Lexington(Books.(
(
Felski,(R.((1989).(Beyond&feminist&aesthetics:&feminist&literature&and&social&change.(
Cambridge,(MA:(Harvard(University.(
(
Fraser,(N.((1990).(Rethinking(the(public(sphere:(a(contribution(to(the(critique(of(actually(
existing(democracy.(Social&Text,&25/26,(56A80.(
(
Gitlin,(T.((1998).(Public(sphere(or(public(sphericules?(In:(Liebes,(T.,(&(Curran,(J.((Eds.),(
Media,&ritual,&identity&(pp.(168A175).(London,(UK:(Routledge.(
(
Macgilchrist,(F.(&(Böhmig,(I.((2012).(Blogs,(genes(and(immigration:(online(media(and(
minimal(politic.(Media&Culture&&&Society,&34(1),(83A100.(
(
Marchart,(O.((2011).(Democracy(and(minimal(politics:(the(political(difference(and(its(
consequences.(South&Atlantic&Quarterly,&110(4),(965A973.(
(
Pfenniger,(S.((2011).(Frauen(sind(in(den(Schweizer(Medien(untervertreten([Women(are(
underrepresented(in(Swiss(media].(Medienheft.(Retrieved(from(



http://www.medienheft.ch/index.php?id=14&no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=6
68&cHash=96f77a607462e4aa502b3aa602363423(
(
Zaslawski,(V.((2013).(“Frauen(wollen(entdeckt(werden”([“Women(want(to(be(
discovered”].(Neue&Zürcher&Zeitung.(Retrieved(from(
Pro(Quote.((2014).&Homepage.(Retrieved(from:(http://www.proAquote.de/(
(
Squires,(C.((2002).(Rethinking(the(black(public(sphere:(an(alternative(vocabulary(for(
multiple(public(spheres.(Communication&Theory,&12(4),(446A468.(
(
Women’s(Media(Center.((2014).(The&status&of&women&in&U.S.&media&2014.(Retrieved(
from(http://wmc.3cdn.net/ae1a5542872fc8810b_5tm62xgrd.pdf(
&
&
&
& &



IMAGINING&THE&SOCIAL&JUSTICE&WARRIOR&
&
Ruth(Deller(
Sheffield(Hallam(University,(UK(
(
The(term(Social(Justice(Warrior,(or(SJW,(is(one(that(has(become(common(in(internet(
parlance(over(the(past(few(years.((This(pejorative(term(is(used(to(criticise(those(deemed(
as('excessive'(in(seeking(digital(inclusion(and(representation(of(a(range(of(identities(and(
interests,(usually(by(portraying(them(as(histrionic,(unreasonable(and(hypocritical.(
(
In(this(paper,(I(look(the(construction(of(the(SJW(as(a(figure(of(derision(across(a(number(
of(sites(and(memes(and(explore(how(the(imaginary(SJW(is(presented(as(someone(
obsessed(with(shutting(down(free(speech,(and(how(the(term(is(paradoxically(used(to(
silence(the(voices(of(minorities,(activists(or(those(advocating(social(change.(
(
The(SJW(is(characterised(as(an(armchair(activist(who(moans(about(perceived(
inequalities(without(‘doing’(anything,(seeks(attention(and(popularity,(and(is(usually(
hypocritical.(The(meme(Social(Justice(Sally(epitomises(this(stereotype(A(an(attractive(
blonde(white(woman,(shaking(her(fist(and(pulling(a(face,(whilst(espousing(a(hypocritical(
statement.((The(College(Liberal(or(‘bad(argument(hippie’(meme((a(white(woman(with(
dreadlocks(captioned(with(a(similarly(hypocritical(line)((see(Shifman(2013:(113)(could(be(
viewed(as(another(iteration(of(this(stereotype.((
(
The(term(is(often(applied(in(conjunction(with(other(pejoratives,(such(as(‘special(
snowflake’,(‘hipster’,(‘armchair(activist’(or(‘keyboard(warrior’.((Whilst(SJW(is(a(crossA
platform(insult,(it(is(also(often(aligned(with(platformAspecific(terms(such(as(‘Twitchfork(
mob’,(‘Twitter(lynch(mob’((Twitter)(or(‘Tumblrina,(‘Tumblrista’((Tumblr).((Reddit,(whilst(
hosting(a(number(of(sincere(social(justice(subreddits((e.g.(SocialJustice,(
Socialjustice101),(also(has(its(share(of(those(mocking(SJWs((e.g.(TumblrInAction,(
KotakuInAction).(((
(
The(problems(caused(by(the(imaginary(SJW(are(legion(–(they(have(been(accused(of(
becoming(an(anonymous,(yet(legion,(force(against(freedom(of(speech,(enforcing(their(
opinions(through(trolling,(doxing(and(demanding(trigger(warnings(be(applied(to(sensitive(
content.((The(use(of(SJW(can(be(found(in(criticisms(of(everything(from(#gamergate(and(
#everydaysexism(to(#blacklivesmatter.((((
(
Criticisms(of(SJWs(echo(the(criticisms(of(‘political(correctness’(as(a(policing(force(
seeking(to(restrict(freedom(of(speech(and(dampen(fun.(As(Encyclopedia&Dramatica(puts(
it:(
(

a(bunch(of("activists"(who(sit(around(all(day(and(bitch(and(moan(about(how(
everyone(and(everything(is(racist/sexist/homophobic/transphobic/whorephobic/(
fatphobic/(arachnophobic/bigoted/oppressive.”(Ironically,(as(people(who(claim(to(
want("progress"(in(society,(Social(Justice(Warriors(are(currently(the(biggest(
hindrance(to(the(arts,(and(are(overall(a(cancer(to(society(that(needs(to(be(put(
down.(They(consider(everyone(who(disagrees(even(in(the(slightest(to(be(a("white(



heteroAcis(scum",(even(if(the(ones(disagreeing(with(them(are(ethnic(minorities,(
gays,(bisexuals,(etc.((https://encyclopediadramatica.se/Social_Justice)(

(
As(for(Urban&Dictionary’s(top(rated(definition:(

A(social(justice(warrior,(or(SJW,(does(not(necessarily(strongly(believe(all(that(
they(say,(or(even(care(about(the(groups(they(are(fighting(on(behalf(of…(They(are(
very(sure(to(adopt(stances(that(are("correct"(in(their(social(circle.((The(SJW's(
favorite(activity(of(all(is(to(dogpile.(Their(favorite(websites(to(frequent(are(
Livejournal(and(Tumblr.(They(do(not(have(relevant(favorite(realAworld(places,(
because(SJWs(are(primarily(civil(rights(activists(only(online.(
(http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=SJW)(
(

However,(condemnation(of(SJWs(is(not(confined(to(the(spikier(edges(of(the(internet,(but(
crosses(into(mainstream(media.((West(writes(about(them(‘losing’(in(their(attempts(to(
police(the(internet(through(‘ideologicallyAjustified(bullying’(in(The&Spectator((2014)(and(in(
the(normally(proAsocial(justice(Guardian,(Filopivic(argues(that(campaigners(have(‘gone(
too(far(with(trigger(warnings’((2014).((They(do(find(an(advocate(in(MTV’s(Marusic((2015)(
although(the(majority(of(comments(on(her(article(contain(antiASJW(sentiments:(
‘manipulative(crazy(liars(who(focus(only(on(their(crazy(agenda’d(‘harangued(by(shrill(
harpies’d(‘No(young(person(is(remotely(interested(in(having(their(culture(overtaken(and(
dumbed(down(by(weirdo(marxist(SJW's.(It's(like(you(want(to(police(our(very(thoughts’.(
(
The(Daily&Dot’s(Orsini(specifically(connects(the(term(to(Tumblr(claiming(‘Social(Justice(
is(a(movement(on(Tumblr(without(any(selfAidentifying(movers—a(cause(that(no(activist(
wants(to(be(associated(with’((2012).((Tumblr’s(status(as(a(community(comprised(of(
SJWs(is(further(reiterated(by(Reddits(like(TumblrInAction,(or(Encyclopedia(Dramatica’s(
claim(that(‘Pretty(much(99%(of(the(time,(social(justice(warriors(on(Tumblr(never(get(the(
fuck(off(their(ass(and(actually(do(something’.(
(
Despite(this(perception(of(Tumblr(being(a(haven(for(the(imagined(SJW,(when(using(
Tumblr’s(search(facility(for(‘social(justice’,(the(vast(majority(of(results(are(critical(of(
SJWs(A(although(a(search(for(‘socialjustice’(returns(a(small(majority(of(results(
highlighting(social(justice(issues(rather(than(criticising(SJWs.((‘Tumblrina’,(‘Tumblrista’,(
‘SJW’,(‘socialjusticewarrior’(and(‘social(justice(warrior’(return(almost(universally(negative(
content(as(do(more(explicitly(antagonistic(tags(such(as(‘antiAsjw’(and(‘sjw(bullshit’(and(
catchphrases(associated(with(the(imagined(SJW(such(as(‘die(cis(scum’,(‘diecisscum’,(
‘truscum’(and(‘checkyourprivilege’((although,(in(a(reversal(of(‘social(justice’(vs(
‘socialjustice’,(‘check(your(privilege’(returns(several(results(using(the(tag(seriously).((
Indeed,(it(is(easier(for(the(casual(user(to(find(criticisms(of(this(soAcalled(pervasive(
presence(on(Tumblr(than(it(is(to(find(posts(echoing(the(sentiments(of(the(SJW(
stereotype.(
(
Recuber’s(analysis(of(the(TumblrAhosted(We(Are(the(99%(and(response(blog(We(Are(
the(53%(notes(that(both(campaigns(spoke(of(users’(personal(struggles(and(that(those(
criticising(online(social(justice(and(activist(campaigns(have(more(in(common(with(the(
‘SJWs’(they(are(seeking(to(silence(than(they(might(realise.(((
(



Whilst(the(conflating(of(a(range(of(social(justice(concerns(and(critiques(as(being(the(
preserve(of(funAleeching(SJWs(seeks(to(silence(many(dissenting(and(diverse(voices,(
this(should(perhaps(come(as(no(surprise.(As(Kate(Miltner(notes:(
(

Conflicts(over(control(and(legitimacy(are(taking(place(in(communities(all(over(the(
Internet,(and(at(their(cores(are(entrenched(disparities(of(power(and(voice…(
When(women(and(people(of(color(start(participating(on(platforms(that(are(the(
province(of(white,(technically(literate(early(adopters,(they(are(often(met(with(
hostility(
(

Although(human(beings(are(excessive(and(dramatic(and(laughing(at(our(excess(is(a(
part(of(human(nature,(and(especially(internet(culture,(many(of(the(jokes(and(criticisms(of(
the(SJWs(are(not(from(the(minority(groups(themselves.((The(conflation(of(a(range(of(
concerns(and(debates(into(one,(sweeping,(pejorative(term(becomes(an(attempt(to(
silence(the(arguments(of(many(LGBTQ+(people,(women,(people(of(color,(young(people(
and(those(with(disabilities(and(challenging(their(legitimacy(as(agents(for(change.(
(
References&
(
Filopivic,(Jil((2014)(We’ve(gone(too(far(with(trigger(warnings.((The&Guardian,(5(March.((
Available(at:(http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/05/triggerAwarningsA
canAbeAcounterproductive(
(
Marusic,(Kristina((2015)(Sorry(Trolls,(You’re(Not(Going(To(Win(The(Battle(Against(
Social(Justice(Warriors.((MTV&News.((23(February.(Available(at:(
http://www.mtv.com/news/2087859/trollsAsjwAlaciAgreen/(
(
Miltner,(Kate((2014)(“There’s(no(place(for(lulz(on(LOLCats”:(The(role(of(genre,(gender,(
and(group(identity(in(the(interpretation(and(enjoyment(of(an(Internet(meme.((First&
Monday(19((8).((Available(at:(http://firstmonday.org/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/5391(
(
Recuber,(Timothy((2015)(Occupy(empathy?(Online(politics(and(microAnarrative(of(
suffering.((New&Media&&&Society(17(1)(62–77(
(
Shifman,(Limor((2013)(Memes&in&Digital&Culture.((Massachusetts:(MIT(Press.(
(
West,(Ed((2014)(Why(Social(Justice(Warriors(are(Losing.((The&Spectator,(12(November.(((
Available(at:(http://blogs.spectator.co.uk/edwest/2014/11/whyAsocialAjusticeAwarriorsA
areAlosing/(
&
&
& &



SOCIAL&JUSTICE&ONLINE:&LOOKING&BEYOND&LIBERALISM&
&
Sky(Croeser(
Curtin(University(
&
Discussions(of(social(justice(online(cross(a(range(of(academic(literature,(including(work(
on(Internet(governance,(censorship(and(surveillance,(online(community,(online(
harassment,(and(content(creation.(This(paper(does(not(aim(to(provide(a(comprehensive(
overview(of(the(work(on(social(justice(online,(but(rather(to(point(to(a(common(trend(in(
this(broad(and(crossAdisciplinary(body(of(writing:(the(tendency(to(ground(discussions(
either(explicitly(or(implicitly(within(a(Western,(liberal,(political(framework.(This(is(most(
visibly(manifested(in(the(frequent(appeal(to(discourses(around(free(speech(and/or(
human(rights(when(addressing(moral(and(ethical(questions(about(the(Internet.(
Karanasiou((2012:(249)(notes(that(broad(concepts(of(universal(human(rights((including(
free(speech)(have(important(differences(from(the(specific(incarnation(of(free(speech(
discourse(in(the(US.(However,(both(are(firmly(grounded(in(Western(liberal(tradition,(with(
its(attendant(assumptions(about(the(primacy(of(the(individual,(the(role(of(the(state,(and(
the(relationship(between(the(state(and(capital.(While(these(discourses(are(powerful,(
particularly(given(their(hegemonic(political(and(social(position,(there(are(important(
reasons(to(look(beyond(their(boundaries(when(considering(social(justice(online.((
(
Frequently,(we(see(debates(about(the(transfer(of(preAexisting(political(concepts(online(
framed(by(considerations(of(the(degree(to(which(the(Internet(shares(similarity(with,(or(
overlaps(with,(the(offline(spaces(in(which(these(concepts(were(first(developed.(We(see(
Karanasiou((2012:(254),(for(example,(arguing(that(regulation(of(free(speech(online(
needs(to(be(reconsidered(because(of(“the(widening(chasm(between(the(classic(
theoretical(framework(for(free(speech(and(the(current(reality(enfolding(speech(online”d(
Casacuberta(and(Senges((2008:(102)(calling(for(a(recognition(of(the(shared(similarities(
between(the(Internet(and(other(collective(goods(and(the(resultant(need(to(“prudently(
respect(and(embrace(the(experience(the(traditional(negotiators(of(international(
agreements(contribute(to(the(process”(by(creating(an(Internet(Bill(of(Rightsd(and(
researchers(calling(for(action(on(online(harassment(based(on(its(impacts(on((“broad(
ideals(such(as(civil(discourse,(social(inclusivity,(and(democratic(engagement”(both(
online(and(offline((Jane(2014:(542).(What(these(discussions(have(in(common(is(the(
assumption(that(the(liberal(democratic(model(has(been(successful,(and(need(only(be(
modified(to(the(extent(that(online(and(offline(spaces(differ.((
(
This(assumption(leads(to(a(number(of(recurring(themes(in(the(kinds(of(solutions(which(
are(proposed(within(academia(to(social(injustice(online.(Perhaps(the(most(common(
class(of(solutions(are(those(which(attempt(to(extend(the(model(of(the(liberal(democratic(
state,(or(related(instruments(of(government,(to(the(Internet.(Frequently,(these(efforts(are(
positioned(as(an(attempt(to(bring(governments’(regulation(of(the(Internet(within(the(
framework(of(human(rights(instruments(as(a(way(to(protect(users.(For(example,(there(
have(been(multiple(calls(by(academics,(activists,(and(regular(Internet(users(for(some(
form(of(online(‘Bill(of(Rights’((O’Byrne(2014d(Casacuberta(&(Senges,(2008d(Reddit(users(
2012).(Similarly,(the(liberal(democratic(model(of(citizenship(is(often(invoked(as(a(way(to(
hold(national(governments(or(other(bodies(with(power(over(the(Internet(accountabled(the(
‘netizen’(will,(many(hope,(“be(able(to(serve(as(a(critical(concept(in(the(politics(of(



democratization”((Poster(2006)(both(online(and(in(countries(which(do(not(currently(fit(the(
liberal(democratic(model((see(also(MacKinnon(2012).(The(Internet(is(positioned(in(these(
discussions(as(both(a(vehicle(for(the(expansion(of(a(particular(model(of(democracy,(and(
as(a(site(requiring(further(incorporation(into(that(model.(
(
The(tendency(to(adopt(a(liberal(democratic(model(is(also(visible(in(the(tendency(to(
frame(discussions(of(online(harassment(with(reference(to(debates(around(free(speech.(
Authors(who(highlight(the(problems(associated(with(leaving(online(spaces(unmoderated(
in(the(name(of(avoiding(censorship(tend(to(return(to(competing(interpretations(of(
classical(free(speech(theory:(the(argument(that(free(speech(is(necessary(to(reveal(the(
truth((Williams(2009).(Thus(Wotanis(and(Mcmillan(frame(concerns(about(the(effects(of(
online(harassment(in(terms(of(the(possibility(that(it(is,(“silencing(voices(that(could(benefit(
others”((2014:(915).(Citron((2008),(similarly,(calls(for(action(against(online(harassment(
by(appealing(to(deeper(underlying(civil(rights,(and(by(talking(about(the(ways(in(which(
harassment(impinges(on(the(free(speech(of(women(and(minorities(online.(
(
What(is(frequently(missing(is(a(critique(of(whether(the(liberal(democratic(model(has,(in(
fact,(been(successful(enough(that(we(should(be(focusing(on(how(to(transfer(and(extend(
it(online,(making(small(modifications(as(necessary.(We(tend(to(see(human(rights(and(
democracy(as(frameworks(separate(from,(or(offering(alternatives(to,(the(neoliberal(
systemd(however,(the(spread(of(these(ideas(has(been(tightly(interlinked(with(colonialism(
and(neoliberalism’s(environmental,(social,(and(political(crises.&Tsing((2011)(argues(that(
while(concepts(like(human(rights(and(free(speech(may(have(power,(they(also(come(
packaged(with(their(own(histories(and,(“These(packages(carry(the(inequalities(of(global(
geoopolitics(even(as(they(promote(rhetorics(of(equality.(Those(who(adopt(and(adapt(
them(do(not(escape(the(colonial(heritage,(even(as(they(explore(its(possibilities”.(We(
should(therefore(be(extending(our(collective(imaginary,(drawing(on(histories(of(political(
thought(and(praxis(that(work(beyond(the(limitations(of(liberal(Western(theory.((
(
References(
(
Casacuberta,(D.,(&(Senges,(M.((2008).(Do(we(need(new(rights(in(Cyberspace?(
Discussing(the(case(of(how(to(define(onAline(privacy(in(an(Internet(Bill(of(Rights.(
Enrahonar,(40/41,(99–111.(
(
Citron,(D.(K.((2008).(Cyber&Civil&Rights((SSRN(Scholarly(Paper(No.(ID(1271900).(
Rochester,(NY:(Social(Science(Research(Network.(Retrieved(from(
http://papers.ssrn.com/abstract=1271900(
(
Jane,(E.(A.((2014).(“Your(a(Ugly,(Whorish,(Slut.”(Feminist&Media&Studies,(14(4),(531–
546.(doi:10.1080/14680777.2012.741073(
(
Karanasiou,(A.(P.((2012).(On(balancing(free(speech(in(a(digital(context.(Masaryk&
University&Journal&of&Law&and&Technology,(6(2),(247–266.(
(
MacKinnon,(R.((2012).(The(Netizen.(Development,(55(2),(201–204.(
doi:10.1057/dev.2012.5(
(



O’Byrne,(W.(I.((2014,(July(18).(Toward(an(Internet(Bill(of(Rights.(Retrieved(from(
http://wiobyrne.com/towardAanAinternetAbillAofArights/(
(
Poster,(M.((2006).(Information&Please:&Culture&and&Politics&in&the&Age&of&Digital&
Machines.(Duke(University(Press.(
(
Reddit(users.((2012).(Free(Internet(Activism(–(Authors(of(the(Digital(Bill(of(Rights.(
Retrieved(June(26,(2012,(from(http://www.reddit.com/r/fia/(
(
Tsing,(A.(L.((2011).(Friction:&An&Ethnography&of&Global&Connection.(Princeton(University(
Press.(
(
Williams,(S.(H.((2009).(Feminist(Theory(and(Freedom(of(Speech.(Indiana&Law&Journal,(
84,(999.(
(
(
( (



EMPATHY&AND&EFFICIENCY&ON&THE&‘SMART’&URBAN&FRONTIER&
(
Gregory(T.(Donovan(
Fordham(University(
(
This(paper(situates(smart(urbanism(within(an(historical(geography(of(privatization(and(
gentrification(so(as(to(critically(analyze(the(cultural(values(embedded(in(the(platforms(
and(practices(of(dataAdriven(efficiency.(Building(from(this(analysis,(empathy(is(theorized(
as(a(counter(ontology(for(drawing(together(a(more(just(and(even(mode(of(urban(
development(with(and(through(digital(media.(‘Smart(urbanism,’(or(‘smart(cities,’(
represent(the(rapid(integration(of(digital(platforms(and(communication(infrastructures(
into(all(modes(of(urban(living(and(development(as(well(as(the(reorienting(of(urban(
economies(toward(creative(and(digital(industries((Kitchin(2013).(While(smart(urbanism(
broadly(represents(multiple(and(often(contradictory(movements((Hollands(2008),(it(is(
loosely(organized(by(an(ontology(of(efficiency(or(an(articulated(desire(to(harness(big(
data(and(technological(innovation(for(the(purposes(of(orienting(the(urban(everyday(
towards(maximum(economic(and(social(production.((
(
DataAdriven(governance,(the(privatization(of(communication(infrastructures,(and(the(
privileging(of(new(media(districts(are(regularly(framed(as(‘smart’(and(‘efficient’(ways(for(
cities(to(compete(with(each(other(for(global(capital.(Within(these(databases,(
infrastructures,(and(planning(policies,(who(and(where(are(considered(waste(lay(at(the(
center(of(concerns(over(increased(surveillance((Wood(&(Ball(2013),(digital(
discrimination((Gangadharan(and(Woolley(2014),(softwareAsorting((Graham(2005),(and(
uneven(development(in(urban(environments((Indergaard(2009).(Further,(the(imaginary(
of(a(‘new(frontier’(embraced(by(corporations(such(as(IBM,(Cisco,(and(Siemens,(serves(
to(elide(the(creative(destruction(and(social(injustice(often(entailed(in(the(classification(of(
certain(people(and(places(as(waste,(risk,(or(simply(other.((
(
Cases(are(drawn(from(ongoing(ethnographic(work(in(New(York(City(to(compare(and(
contrast(the(LinkNYC(WiFi(initiative(with(the(communityAbased(Red(Hook(WiFi,(as(well(
as(the(NYPD’s(dataAdriven(justifications(for(Stop(and(Frisk(with(the(participatory(media(
work(of(Researchers(for(Fair(Policing((RFP).(Whereas(a(smart(urban(ontology(calls(for(
the(quantification,(modularization,(and(layering(of(urban(people(and(place,(a(hybrid(
ontology(oriented(toward(empathy(calls(for(a(more(qualitative,(situated,(and(shared(form(
of(urban(development.(Collectively,(Red(Hook(WiFi(and(RFP(represent(a(challenge(to(
contemporary(modes(of(urban(privatization(and(gentrification(within(NYC(by(socially(and(
materially(reducing(the(experiential(distance(between(the(self(and(the(other(and(thus(
fostering(what(Fine((2006)(has(called(theoretical(and(provocative(generalizability.(
(
Efficient&Urbanism&as&the&New&Frontier&
(
The(informationalization(of(everyday(life(in(most(U.S.(cities(has(become(so(pronounced(
that(it(is(now(difficult(to(disentangle(the(production(of(urban(media(from(that(of(place.(
The(reciprocal(production(of(geography(and(technology(entailed(in(globalization(has(led(
to(a(reAtheorization(of(the(urban(form(over(the(past(two(decades.(Hybrid(constructions(of(
the(“Informational(City”((Castells(1992),(“Cybercity”((Boyer(1992),(and(more(recently(the(



“RealATime(City”((Hollands(2008,(Kitchin(2014)(suggest(a(growing(interest(and(inquiry(
into(the(political(ecology(of(an(urbanism(often(phased(as(‘newer’(and(‘smarter.’(
This(paper’s(primary(concern(with(smart(urbanism,(particularly(regarding(marginalized(
and(poor(communities,(is(that(dataAdriven(development(comes(at(the(expense(of(
empathy(and(often(obscures(injustice(as(statistically(necessary(or(irrelevant.(
Additionally,(as(NYCs(economy(becomes(oriented(toward(highAtech(and(creative(
industries,(public(investments(are(made(to(recruit(a(highly(educated(workforce.(Existing(
processes(of(urban(gentrification(are(thus(ramped(up(to(make(room(for(an(incoming(
young,(largely(white,(and(supposedly(more(creative(class(of(workers((Indergaard(2009).(
Marginalized(and(poor(communities(are(meanwhile(segregated(and(largely(sorted(out(of(
this(highAtech(and(creative(urban(economy.(

The(frontier(mythology(surrounding(the(smart(city—of(data(seamlessly(generated(thru(
technosocial(interactions,(circulated(in(immaterial(cloudAlike(form,(and(objectively(
analyzed(to(inform(actions(both(slight(and(profound—obscures(the(lived(realities(of(
contemporary(modes(of(production(and(reproduction.(It(conjures(an(imaginary(of(realA
time(knowledge,(flexible(production,(reduced(carbon(emissions,(and(privately(contracted(
gig(for(everyone.(This(imaginary(may(hold(when(evaluated(within(the(narrow(context(of(
affluent(urban(populations(and(their(neighborhoods,(but(it(dances(around(a(persistent(
historical(geography(of(uneven(socioeconomic(development.(Despite(a(boom(in(New(
York(City’s(‘Silicon(Alley’(industries(and(recordAbreaking(real(estate(acquisitions,(46%(of(
New(Yorkers(currently(make(less(than(150%(of(the(poverty(threshold.(

There(is,(however,(nothing(particularly(new(about(this(mythology,(just(as(there(was(little(
new(about(the(“revanchist”(underpinnings(of(the(gentrification(of(Manhattan’s(Lower(
East(Side((Smith(1996).(This(wave(of(1980sA90s(gentrification(was(framed(as(a(middle(
class(colonization(of(a(modern(day(Wild(West—an(imagined(reestablishment(of(white(
middle(and(upper(class(values(into(the(social(material(organization(of(urban(life.(As(this(
paper(discusses,(many(of(these(popular(and(political(framings(of(the(Lower(East(Side’s(
gentrification(can(be(found(in(the(more(lofty(corporate(rhetoric(surrounding(the(
possibilities(of(smart(urban(policies(and(platforms.(

New&Media’s&Uneven&Geography(

New(York(City’s(official(map(of(digital(industry(reveals(that(little(is(located(in(lowerA
income(areas(and(almost(none(in(the(Bronx(or(East(New(York((http://digital.nyc/map).(
This(unevenness(is(further(accentuated(if(the(interactive(map(is(modified(to(only(show(
coAworking(and(incubator(spaces.(The(underrepresented(areas,(where(the(majority(of(
New(Yorkers(live,(receive(little(attention(in(the(city’s(cultivation(of(digital(industry(aside(
from(enhanced(policing(and(surveillance.(A(map(created(by(Researchers(for(Fair(
Policing((RFP)(of(Stop(and(Frisk(activity,(a(controversial(policing(tactic(of(the(NYPD,(
presents(a(stark(contrast(to(the(digital.nyc(map,(indicating(that(not(only(were(90%(of(
those(stopped(between(2002(and(2010(of(color(but(those(stops(were(highly(
concentrated(in(a(few(geographical(regions((https://vimeo.com/117420571).((

The(city’s(rationalization(for(why(this(policing(policy(was(not(a(matter(of(unconstitutional((
racial(profiling,(was(predicated(on(the(notion(that(police(officers(were(simply(stopping(
and(frisking(those(statistically(most(likely(to(be(carrying(an(illegal(weapon.(Data,(and(not(



the(passions(of(cultural(politics,(supposedly(guided(the(practice(despite(88%(of(those(
stopped((3.8M(people)(being(found(of(no(wrong(doing.(To(counter(the(ways(black(and(
brown,(and(mostly(male,(youth(have(been(represented(within(public(databases,(as(well(
as(the(local(and(national(urban(imaginary,(the(RFP(have(been(developing(videos(for(
social(media(that(look(critically(at(the(statistics(behind(Stop(and(Frisk(and(also(amplify(
the(narratives(of(young(people(who’ve(been(frisked.(Examples(from(their(public(media(
work(will(be(highlighted(and(discussed(as(a(way(of(organizing(meaningful(
understandings(of(injustice(in(the(smart(city(through(the(sharing(of(lived(experience.(&

The(more(material(aspects(of(smart(urbanism’s(uneven(geography(will(also(be(explored(
by(comparing(and(contrasting(two(different(WiFi(initiatives(in(NYC.(The(first(example,(
LinkNYC,(is(a(cityAwide(initiative(to(convert(existing(payphones(into(high(bandwidth(WiFi(
kiosks.(Following(the(publicAprivate(partnership(model(that(governs(most(NYC(parks(in((
affluent(areas,(this(‘public(Wifi’(is(being(developed(as(a(profitAdriven(infrastructure(
focused(on(generating(ad(revenue.(In(contrast,(Red(Hook(WiFi(is(a(communityAbased(
initiative(aimed(at(enhancing(digital(access(within(the(Red(Hook(Houses(and(their(
surrounding(community(in(Brooklyn.(In(this(example,(the(community(itself(builds(and(
maintains(a(free(mesh(network(that(provides(people(in(the(area(with(access(to(both(a(
local(intranet(and(the(broader(internet.(While(LinkNYC(is(a(consortium(of(corporations(
represented(within(the(digital.nyc(map(that(aims(to(generate(more(revenue(for(the(city(
by(upgrading(an(existing(communication(infrastructure,(Red(Hook(WiFi(builds(a(local(
infrastructure(with(and(within(a(lowAincome(neighborhood(unlikely(to(generate(significant(
advertising(revenue(and(thus(unlikely(to(attract(many((if(any)(LinkNYC(kiosks.(

Empathy&as&Ontological&Stance(

Quantified measurements of WiFi access in NYC, or of innocent youth frisked by armed 
officers in their own neighborhoods, are unlikely to produce statistical generalizability 
and thus warrant broad public concern. These experiences, once quantified and entered 
into urban dashboards, are visualized at the margins of society. The consequences of 
efficiency fall largely on the others and happen in the elsewheres of the smart city. 
Although often commanding public sympathy, quantified experiences alone fall short of 
fostering public empathy. Numbers frame Stop and Frisk and digital divides as 
aberrations of injustice, something experienced by a minority of New Yorker’s and that 
should be addressed with myopic focus (if at all). This side-steps a discussion of how 
such phenomena are intertwined outcomes of structural oppression and inequity—a 
structure that broadly effects and ironically connects the public in banal, profound, and 
yet to be imagined ways. 

As Fine explains (2006), bearing witness to lived injustice through critical and 
participatory inquiry offers more than direct generalizable extensions of one’s findings. 
Fine offers us two conceptualizations of generalizability that require more than statistical 
analysis: theoretical and provocative. A theoretical generalizability represents the 
“extent to which theoretical notions or dynamics move from one context to another” 
whereas a provocative generalizability demonstrates a shared concern in understanding 
and addressing injustice across context. Both the RFP and Red Hook WiFi work with/in 
digital media and communication infrastructures to offer theoretical and provocative 



generalizations across context, in ways typically overlooked by the gaze of big data and 
left unimagined. Each project helps reduce the experiential distance between the self 
and the other in order to draw together a more just imaginary of the smart city. Such a 
focus on media for empathy, rather than media for efficiency, counters ahistorical 
frontier imaginaries as much as it helps urban communities address who and where is 
being left out of smart urbanism.(
(
References(
(
Boyer,(C.((1992).(The(imaginary(real(world(of(cybercities.(In(Assemblage,(18:115–127.(
MIT(Press.(
(
Castells,(M.((1992).(The(informational(city:(Economic(restructuring(and(urban(
development.(WileyABlackwell.(
(
Fine,(M.((2006).(Bearing(witness:(Methods(for(researching(oppression(and(resistanceAA
A(textbook(for(critical(research.(Social&Justice&Research(19((1):(83A108.(
(
Gangadharan(and(Woolley((2014).(
(
Graham,(S.D.N.((2005).(
(
Hollands,(R.((2008).(Will(the(real(smart(city(please(stand(up?(Intelligent,(progressive(or(
entrepreneurial?”(City(12((3):(303–320(
(
Indergaard,(M.((2009).(What(to(make(of(New(York's(new(economy?(The(politics(of(the(
creative(field.(Urban&Studies(46:(1063A1093.(
(
Kitchin,(R.((2014).(The(realAtime(city?(Big(data(and(smart(urbanism.(
(
Smith,(N.((1996).(The(new(urban(frontier:(Gentrification(and(the(revanchist(city.(
GeoJournal.(
(
Wood,(D.M.(and(Ball,(K.((2013).(Brandscapes(of(control?(Surveillance,(marketing(and(
the(coAconstruction(of(subjectivity(and(space(in(neoAliberal(capitalism.”(Marketing&
Theory(13((1):(47–67.(