“What used to be months-, even years-long movements can now gain momentum in a matter of days or hours.”
– The Geostrata
Social media has rewired how citizens approach activist movements to make an impact on society. Platforms have democratized access to information and given marginalized voices a new sense of empowerment (The Geostrata). Users can connect with others worldwide to plan demonstrations, educate, and find community.
In a study by the Pew Research Center on social media, they found that:
- Half of U.S. adult social media users say social media is very or somewhat important for them when it comes to finding others who share their views about important issues.
- 53% of users under 30 say social media is personally important for getting involved in issues meaningful to them.
- 69% say that social media highlights important issues and helps give underrepresented groups a voice.
- 62% of those under 30 say social media makes it easier to hold powerful people accountable. Among those 65 and older, 36% say the same.
Social Media In Action
An example of social media in action is the Arab Spring. In 2010, Tunisian citizens began protesting to challenge the abuse of power by their government. The protestors posted real-time updates to Facebook and Twitter. People around the world showed their support, and other countries quickly followed suit to protest their own authoritarian governments. The volume of attention led to the dismantling of the Tunisian government and its leader fleeing (HISTORY). Social media broke the “monopoly over information that state-controlled media had held” (The Geostrata).
How It Works
Social media platforms are optimized to prioritize brevity, accessibility, and visual appeal. The format of social media allows users to scroll and absorb information quickly. Posts are created to explain situations or express grievances, often using eye-catching visuals. While these explanations could oversimplify complex issues, they start a conversation.
Traditional media is highly regulated through editorial guidelines and sometimes biased sources. Social media allowed citizens to take control of the narrative. These posts are easy for users to share, “reaching users who might not otherwise engage with such topics” (Sugihartono). The speed at which user-created content can be posted directly to the world is unprecedented. In addition to platforms being mainly free to sign up, the accessibility of getting involved helps grow a movement.
A single post on social media can reach people worldwide. Social media has also created a new type of celebrity, influencers, whose job is to sway public opinion. “These users, who often have millions of followers, can influence public opinion by endorsing political candidates, policies, or social movements” (Sugihartono).
The Potential
With all these benefits, social media has the potential to be an avenue for bringing about justice and possibly toppling corrupt governments. While the platforms won’t do all the work, users have the tools to make a difference.
“The global nature of social media meant that these movements could not be easily throttled, and international solidarity added further pressure to regimes to concede”
– The Geostrata
LAUREN SCOOPO 