Uniting Political Bloggers in Diversity: Collective Identity and Web Activism

In contrast to the common view of blogging as a highly narcissistic activity, this study explicates how blogging is a communal activity and the emergence of a collective identity which drives collective action. 41 interviews with activist and nonactivist bloggers revealed that shared consciousness, distinctive blogging practices, and the articulation of a common adversary contribute to the development of a collective identity. Furthermore, identity multiplexity points to the emergence of individualized collectiveness, which extends beyond networked individualism and is reinforced by offline participation in activism and pre-existing social ties with other activists.