Exploring Change.Org as a Digital Heterotopia: A Foucauldian Approach

Abstract

Technological developments and especially the Internet have shaped the understanding of culture and society. New forms of politics, economy, business and trade have emerged with digital culture. Digital communication tools have provided effective platforms for people not only to communicate with each other, but also to organize against societal problems. In this context, digital activism has provided opportunities for non-physical gatherings and new modes of organizing. As an e-petition platform, Change.org including various campaigns worldwide, is one of those effective digital activist platforms. Although there are several studies analyzing Change.org as an effective digital activist platform, the extant literature does not include studies that focus on the platform as a heterotopic site. In this context, the current study aims to find out how to understand Change.org as an example of digital heterotopia based on Michel Foucault’s approach. Descriptive case study analysis was selected as the research technique and four categories were identified to analyze the case in a detailed way. The study revealed that Change.org can be considered as an epitome of digital heterotopia which reflects and creates the alternative spaces at the same time, and juxtaposes several spaces, events and issues in a single space with its own community rules.