This article gives you a look at the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and how it has propelled many other hashtags to come to fruition for a social cause. The Pew Research Center shares statistics on how Americans view Social Media as a tool for making a difference, socially, but so far the reviews are mixed.
The impact of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag on Twitter reached millions. It has been used nearly “30 million times on Twitter – an average of 17,002 times per day – as of May 1st, 2018” (Pew Research Center, Activism in the Social Media Age). The article focuses on #BLM, but think about how many times #MAGA or #MeToo or #SayHerName has been used to advance a social issue that is happening to a specific group of people.
Black and brown folks have taken advantage of social media as a platform to speak on social problems that are occurring in their communities. When you are on Twitter or Instagram, you can filter what you see, but there will be times when you receive content that is new and you cannot un-see a social problem that creeps its way into your feed. Check it out!
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2018/07/11/activism-in-the-social-media-age/
LIS 4022 Spring 2020 