Book excerpt: The growing presence of social media and computer use has caused significant changes to community engagement. With the ubiquity of these technologies, there is increasing engagement in social and political policies and changes. Online Communities as Agents of Change and Social Movements is a pivotal reference source for the latest research on relevant theoretical and practical frameworks regarding online communities and social media as agents of social and political change. Featuring extensive coverage on relevant areas such as computer use, online engagement, and collective action, this publication is an ideal resource for researchers, academics, practitioners, and students in the fields of social psychology, social network analysis, media studies, information systems, and political science.