Social movements in the Internet age can achieve maximum mobilization effect in a short time, which may, however, soon evaporate. In response to the changing landscape, research on social movements needs to re-conceptualize actors and to examine corresponding rhetorical strategies.
With reference to relevant literature and social movement cases, this study proposes four rings of actors, extending from actors with the highest
commitment in the center to actors on the periphery. This paper contends that the actors of the fourth ring (i.e., those occupying the outlying ring) can be characterized by autonomy, individuation, anonymity, and lurking behaviors; they most epitomize the nature of social movement actors in the Internet age. This paper proceeds to propose rhetorical choices and media
use catering to actors of the four rings.