Final answer:
Social protests are organized by groups who find themselves excluded from traditional political mechanisms, are campaigning for specific reforms, or are calling for revolution. They utilize technology to organize and are a means for collective political participation. Protests have been effective in movements like the civil rights movement, Black Lives Matter, and Occupy Wall Street.
Step-by-step explanation:
Social protests are utilized by groups for a variety of reasons, not limited to one single purpose. In many cases, groups engage in social protests because they are shut out of more traditional avenues of political action. These groups might feel that their voices are not being heard in conventional political processes, prompting them to take to the streets or use other forms of protest to express their views and demands. Social protests are also used when there is a need to campaign for specific reforms, such as changes to police practices, or even to call for a complete overhaul of the political system, as seen in revolutionary movements.
Organized social movements can also be a response to incidents that spur public outrage, leading to demonstrations and other forms of nonviolent reform. Through the use of modern technology like cell phones and the internet, information about protests can be disseminated rapidly, helping to organize and muster support. Despite attempts by some governments to restrict or control communication, social movements have shown that they can effectively use these technologies to bypass censorship and exercise their will over governing bodies.
Protests provide a platform for collective political participation and have played an important role in various movements across the world, including the African American civil rights movement and modern-day movements like Black Lives Matter and Occupy Wall Street. By joining forces, protesters amplify their voices, drawing media attention and influencing lawmakers. Whether through direct actions like marches and sit-ins or economic strategies like boycotting and 'buycotts', social protests continue to be an effective means for interest groups to achieve political participation and influence change.