[2204.09821] Understanding AR Activism: An Interview Study with Creators of Augmented Reality Experiences for Social Change

The rise of consumer augmented reality (AR) technology has opened up new
possibilities for interventions intended to disrupt and subvert cultural
conventions. From defacing corporate logos to erecting geofenced digital
monuments, more and more people are creating AR experiences for social causes.
We sought to understand this new form of activism, including why people use AR
for these purposes, opportunities and challenges in using it, and how well it
can support activist goals. We conducted semi-structured interviews with twenty
people involved in projects that used AR for a social cause across six
different countries. We found that AR can overcome physical world limitations
of activism to convey immersive, multilayered narratives that aim to reveal
invisible histories and perspectives. At the same time, people experienced
challenges in creating, maintaining, and distributing their AR experiences to
audiences. We discuss open questions and opportunities for creating AR tools
and experiences for social change.