Live, and Let Last: The Power of Ephemerality in the #FreePalestine Digital Movement.

Abstract

This research examines the impact of Instagram's ephemeral features, specifically Instagram Live, on creating urgency, engagement, and visibility within the #FreePalestine movement. By focusing on the digital activism of Motaz Azaiza, a prominent Palestinian photojournalist, the study explores how temporary content enables collective momentum, challenging the conventional view that digital activism relies on permanence to create lasting political impact. Instagram’s unique combination of real-time interaction and selective permanence, such as Archived Live videos, creates a space for immediate action while retaining traces of content for future visibility. The study uses a mixed-methods qualitative approach, incorporating case study analysis, affordance analysis, and interface analysis to examine how Instagram’s platform design shapes the practices and content of digital activists and the endurance of ephemeral content. It looks at how the affordances of Instagram, such as the transitory nature of Live content and the selective preservation of archived videos, contribute to the dynamic nature of online activism. This research also addresses the implications of ephemerality for digital memory, exploring how the fleeting nature of certain content disrupts traditional notions of social media versus digital archives. By considering these tensions between immediacy and long-term visibility, the research offers fresh insights into the evolving nature of digital activism. It explores the ways in which social media platforms, through their features and governance, mediate political participation and influence the strategies employed by activists. Ultimately, this study sheds light on how ephemeral content can both challenge and reinforce the broader socio-political landscape of digital activism, with implications for the governance of activism in the digital age.