# Pandemic sparks rise in digital activism

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2020/09/01/pandemic-sparks-rise-in-digital-activism/
- Published: 2020-09-01T08:36:27+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Digital activism has risen worldwide since the start of the pandemic, with the
UK one of the countries to have seen a significant rise in civic engagement on Change.
org.**

 

 

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

 

[Change.org](http://change.org/)  has released its [Global Civic Engagement Index](https://reports.changefoundation.org/pandemic-report-2020/introducing-a-barometer-of-digital-civic-engagement/),
which is based on data for the top 25 countries with the highest engagement on the
platform  from January 2020 to July 2020, comparing it to the same period in 2019.

 

 

 

It shows a steep increase in people using online tools on the platform since January
to voice concerns, influence policy and persuade decision makers to make changes
on political, societal and cultural issues.

 

 

 

Of the 25 countries analysed over the past seven months, South Africa has emerged
as the leader in adopting online activism, accelerated by the pandemic. While traditionally,
the country has had lower engagement on the Change.org platform, since the start
of the pandemic four million users in South Africa have signed up to use the platform–
six times higher than the user growth rate compared to 2019. Petition creation increased
by 227%, and people supporting campaigns also increased by 1060% during this period.

 

 

 

#### UK in top ten for growth

 

 

 

The UK is in the top ten countries with the highest civic engagement index, alongside
South Africa, Japan, Canada, United States, Peru, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines
and New Zealand.

 

 

 

It comes in at number six, and has seen petition growth of 118.94% in the last seven
months, alongside signature growth of 115.63%, and user base growth of 19.79%.

 

 

 

#### Global averages

 

 

 

Overall, in 22 of the 25 top countries, [Change.org](http://change.org/) Foundation,
which built the Index, saw a huge increase in support of petitions compared to 2019,
with a global average increase of 81% in people joining or supporting a petition.

 

 

 

In 23 out of the 25 countries, the number of petitions created increased dramatically,
with a global average increase of 80%, while in 10 of the 25 countries, the** **
number of petitions created in the past seven months doubled compared to the last
year.

 

 

 

User growth has also increased across all 25 countries, at an average of nearly 
33%.

 

 

 

Preethi Herman, Global Executive Director at [Change.org](http://change.org/) Foundation
said:

 

 

 

> “This report highlights not just the trends and index but many of the social, 
> cultural and political challenges faced by millions around the world.  We are 
> hearing from people around the world about not just their problems, but the solutions
> they deserve, and witnessing Governments and decision makers recognising the need
> to respond to them online. The last few months have revealed that this world has
> entered a new era of civic engagement and digital activism and there are a number
> of non-traditional players who are leading the way to create a new wave of positive,
> people driven change.”

![Loading](https://fundraising.co.uk/wp-content/plugins/page-views-count/ajax-loader-
2x.gif)