Does Online Activism and Civic Participation Translate to Real World Action?

Social networking sites Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, and YouTube are rapidly becoming common tools used in community organizing. These sites allow us the ability to connect with thousands of people with the click of a mouse.

People can join social movements, take part in online discussions, or donate to a worthy cause without leaving the comforts of home.

However, does online activism and civic participation translate to real world action or does civic participation stop once the computer is off?