Input – The Four Roles of Social Activism by Bill Moyer

As social activism moves online, traditional roles have adapted to fit the platforms we use today. Activists on social media, including TikTok, have redefined these roles into three digital-focused categories:

The Four Modified Roles in Social Media

Posters – Content creators who raise awareness by posting about social issues on their social media accounts.
Amplifiers – Helpers who spread information by liking, sharing, commenting, and ensuring posts reach a wider audience.
Funders – Individuals who support movements financially, contributing to campaigns, fundraising, or donations.

Bill Moyer described four roles in activism, but on TikTok these are simplified into three: posters, amplifiers, and funders. Posters combine the roles of citizen and rebel by sharing stories or calling out injustice. Amplifiers spread and explain content, like change agents, so more people understand and join in. Funders take the reformer role by raising money or supporting causes. The fourth role isn’t needed, because TikTok’s algorithm already connects people into activist communities.

Instructions

As you read, make notes on the roles and examples you notice.
Think about how these roles relate to your own participation in online activism.
If you are a visual learner or want an extra explanation, you can watch this video:
TikTok Video on Digital Roles

Purpose
These notes will be important for the next activity, where you will practice using new vocabulary related to social activism and online advocacy.

Examples

Here’s a clear table summarizing the four roles of social activism with examples for each role. This will make it easier for you to reference while learning vocabulary:

Role	Description	Example
Posters	Content creators who post about social issues on social media.	A TikTok user creates a video explaining climate change and ways to reduce carbon footprints.
Amplifiers	People who share, like, comment, and otherwise spread posts to reach more people.	Sharing a friend’s post about a charity fundraiser on Instagram or retweeting a campaign on Twitter.
Funders	Individuals who support movements financially, helping campaigns or projects.	Donating money to a nonprofit organization promoting education equality.
Organizers (optional fourth role)	People who coordinate online events, petitions, or campaigns.	Creating a Facebook event for a virtual protest or starting an online petition.

Student Tips:

While reading or watching the video, think about which of these roles you personally might play.
Try to use vocabulary related to each role when describing them (e.g., create, share, donate, coordinate).