Kony 2012: How Social Media Tried to Stop a War
A viral campaign promises to stop Joseph Kony but collapses under scandal and backlash. We examine how Kony 2012 captivated the world—and why it ultimately failed to create real change.
The Compendium: An Assembly of Fascinating Things
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Show Notes
A viral video promises to stop a warlord, igniting global frenzy before collapsing into scandal, backlash, and one very public unraveling.
This episode revisits Kony 2012, charting how a polished campaign about Joseph Kony and the LRA captured worldwide attention through emotional storytelling and social media hype. We explore the action kits, the celebrity endorsements, the evangelical funding, and the rapid shift from praise to ridicule as the movement fell apart and achieved almost nothing on the ground.
Topics include
- The rise of the Kony 2012 campaign
- Joseph Kony and the LRA
- Celebrity and evangelical involvement
- The public meltdown and backlash
- The limits of viral activism
Resources and Further Reading
- Kony 2012 – Wikipedia
- Kony 2012 viral video - Youtube
- Kony 2012 ampaign background – official website
Host & Show Info
- Hosts: Kyle Risi & Adam Cox
- Intro Music: Alice in dark Wonderland
Community & Calls to Action
- Review & follow on: Spotify & Apple Podcasts
- Instagram: @theCompendiumPodcast
- Website: thecompendiumpodcast.com
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