Use it Wisely

Use it Wisely

Social Media and Youth Activism

by Monica Pauls (Mount Royal University)

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"Use It Wisely" is a thoughtful and timely book that takes young people’s perspectives on their digital lives seriously—something that is still far too rare. Monica Pauls offers a nuanced account of youth online activism that moves beyond familiar fear-based narratives, showing how digital spaces can foster agency, solidarity, and meaningful social change, while not shying away from or ignoring the risks. In doing so, the book challenges assumptions about tired “slacktivism” narratives and makes a compelling case for listening more closely to how young people themselves understand and engage the online world.

Prof. Dr. Kaitlynn Mendes
Western University, Canada

Monica Pauls’ book "Use It Wisely" unpacks and critiques stereotypes regarding youth and digital activism (e.g., as ‘slacktivism’) through a meticulously designed, multi-method research project which centers the voices of youth involved in both gun control and climate change social movements. The book explores core issues such as how authenticity is understood by activists who skillfully navigate the constraints and structure of digital environments to render social change. It provides an invaluable contribution to knowledge in this area.

Prof. Dr. Michael Adorjan
Department of Sociology
University of Calgary

I am happy to offer my support for “Use it Wisely: Social Media and Youth Activism” by Dr. Monica Pauls. This book offers a refreshing and nuanced take in a world where we are overwhelmingly presented with evidence of the negative impact of online behaviour. Hearing from the voices of young people is important as we navigate changes in how social media shows up in their lives. Providing a framework to help us understand how young people use social media to express opinions, share ideas, learn and create social change is crucial as young people increasingly orient their lives around social media. This book’s insight extends beyond activism and presents a picture of young people that isn’t often portrayed, as people who are deeply engaged and committed to their cause. It also provides valuable insight into the work that goes into how new social movements organize and mobilize. Readers will benefit from the discussion of connectivity and collective identity that are fostered online, and how these lead to collective action. A timely and informative addition to the literature and discussion on social movements.

Prof. Dr. Monetta Bailey
Social Science Department
Ambrose University, Calgary, Alberta

Young people’s lives are increasingly shaped by digital media, yet public and academic debates about youth, social media and well-being are often dominated by fear-based narratives that frame online spaces as inherently harmful. Against a backdrop of rising concerns about youth mental health and widespread anxieties about social media use, this book offers a critical and timely intervention into how we understand young people’s political and civic engagement in the digital age. Drawing on in-depth interviews with youth activists involved in the international climate change movement and the American gun control movement, alongside analysis of their social media practices, the book challenges binary distinctions between online and real-world activism. Rather than treating digital participation as superficial or ineffective, it foregrounds young people’s own perspectives on activism, demonstrating how digital platforms function as meaningful spaces for connection, organizing and political expression.
Situated at the intersection of youth studies, sociology, media studies and political engagement, the book builds on and extends existing literature on digital activism by centring youth voices and lived experience. It offers a counter-narrative to the persistent “slacktivism” critique, arguing that such framings not only misunderstand contemporary activism but risk delegitimizing young people’s contributions to civic life. Written in an accessible style while grounded in rigorous social research, this book will be of interest to scholars, post-secondary students and practitioners working in education, youth work, child and youth care, social services and community organizing. It is suitable for classroom adoption, scholarly reference and professional reflection, and provides valuable insights for anyone seeking to better understand how young people are reshaping political participation in a digitally networked world.

List of Figures
Introduction
Chapter 1
Good for You? The Effects of Social Media on Youth
Chapter 2
Language Matters: How Are We Talking About Youth Activism?
Chapter 3
A Force for Good: The Affordances of Twitter
Chapter 4
The Dark Side: The Power of the Twitter Platform
Chapter 5
Using Social Media to Build Collective Identity
Chapter 6
Shifting Public Discourse: A Counterargument to Slacktivism
References
Author’s Biography
Index

Monica Pauls is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Child Studies and Social Work at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. Her research focuses on youth, technology, and digital practice, with particular attention to social media use and youth activism. She teaches in the Bachelor of Child Studies, primarily in the areas of program design and evaluation, research methods, systems and social policy, and child and youth care practice. Her teaching emphasizes the integration of theory and practice through participatory learning, partnerships with community organizations, and opportunities for applied learning. Prior to her academic career, Monica worked as Coordinator for Alberta-based research projects at the Canadian Research Institute for Law and the Family and as a Policy Analyst with the United Way of Calgary and Area. She also spent several years working directly with at-risk youth in schools, community programs, and residential settings. Monica holds a PhD in Sociology from the University of Calgary. Her doctoral research, which forms the foundation of this book, examined the role of social media in youth activism.

Youth activism, social media, Özkula, digital activism, online activism, Fridays For Future, March For Our Lives, virtual ethnography, social network analysis, Netlytic, qualitative interviews, affordances, risks, collective identity, social capital, Granovetter, social constructionism, activist identity, digital strikes, Twitter