Social Media and Activism

Ever since the dawn of the internet, the usage of it has varied and evolved over time. Social networking sites such as Twitter, Instagram and even TikTok, for that matter, have faced much controversy and are either loved or hated by all. Gen Z in particular has taken up social media as its most powerful tool to fight against injustice and uses it for social advocacy. With the rise of fascist governments, the continuation of misogyny in our patriarchal society, and internalized homophobia, (just to name a few current phenomena) social media has given a platform to the common public from across the globe to collectively raise their voices.

Social media, as an institution, serves as a news portal for millions worldwide. Older adults tend to dismiss news on online sites as "fake" and a sham; they throw around phrases like “armchair activism” to justify their views and look down on the younger generation for turning to one of the key sources of insightful knowledge in the 21st Century. Spreading awareness is the first step toward unlearning society's primitive norms, yet where we gather this information from (whether it's a reliable source or a made-up political tactic) can be daunting at times.

With the upsurge in circulation of fake news on Twitter and WhatsApp, which even politicians use to put forth their "ideologies," it's tough to find the distinction between what is valid information and what is not. Fake COVID numbers flying about and false remedies to the virus are the number one example of faux information being reposted on Twitter. Using social media as a platform and using it to get your daily news isn’t wrong, but one has to thoroughly look through, research, and verify whether the news channel is delivering the truth or is sending a twisted message. Social media, at times, can be used by narrow-minded individuals to spread hate and pit communities against one another, especially those involved in politics.

Eventually, if one delves deeper into the matter, one will find that the positives of social media can outweigh the negatives. For people across the world, especially the youth, it serves as a tool to fight the dominant majoritarian groups. The #MeToo movement that gained momentum some years back–and continues to thrive-–gave courage to people worldwide to open up about their experiences of sexual assault and was a revolutionary step in the fight for feminism. One case of a woman opening up about her scarring experience allowed thousands to share their stories and fight against assaulters. Survivors of sexual assault and victims stood with each other and are still continuously working towards dismantling rape culture in society. Celebrities called out their co-stars and spoke up against the injuctice faced by women in the industry.

Even if we take up the recent case of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement: it brought about a massive change because of the power the internet and social media hold. The only sad part about this case is that many teens quickly reposted “#BLACKLIVESMATTER” solely for the trend. How else can one justify that there were 20 million reposts of “#BlackoutTuesday,” yet hardly 10 million signatures on the petition which was demanding justice for George Floyd?

Is this selective activism? Or performative activism? With the rise of social media campaigns amidst the pandemic, (and rightly so) the digital world is a platform for people to speak from the comfort of their home–but how helpful is this?

Performative activism is when people "hop on the bandwagon" of whatever social issue seems to be talked about the most. It is detrimental because, despite spreading awareness being equally important, your activism doesn't stop there. You have to believe in the cause. Start conversations about the matter. Actively work toward using the privilege you have to help others. Can't donate? Look up the alternatives. Sign the petitions. Raise your voice.

On the other hand, we also have selective activism. If a teenager or even a celebrity in India is raging about the Black Lives Matter movement yet doesn't care about the lynching taking place within their very nation; this is unjust.

Social media activism isn't wrong; social media is and will continue to evolve and it is up to us for how we plan on using it. As Gen Z ages and soon enters the age of politics, we need to make sure to use what we have at the moment: our Instagram handles and Twitter accounts to raise our voices and break the prejudices that occupy the minds of society–and not just when it makes you look cool.

Name: Sana Bashir

Editor: Claire Ottenstein

Graphic Designer: Katherine Chacon

Photographer: Sophie Hafter