With the recent Charleston shooting and the legalization of same-sex marriage, activism has been a popular and controversial topic. Social media is used for political campaigns, personal stories, humor, and activists. It is a place where people can show support or disagreement for a certain topic. Hashtags and memes are used as ways for those groups of people to promote their cause. However, it does not always work in a positive way.
People used the memes or hashtag to make fun of the topic at hand, thus discounting the importance of the matter.Stephanie VIe discusses in her analysis, “In defense of “slacktivism,” that people change and edit the original meme that the individuals actually in support of it no longer associate with it because no longer has the important meaning. On the contrary, people will also use the image to mock the group. Because of the ideas behind memes being customizable and having no real owner, everyone has the right to do with it as they please. Unfortunately, this is not beneficial to activism. For instance, the LGBT community has been using the exact same icon since 1995, but people felt the need to edit and change it for new issues and new recognition. While millions and millions of people changed profile pictures to the red and pink icon, the original one was forgotten by some, myself included. Social media activism is powerful, but it is important to not let it get too powerful where people forget the initial meaning.
People all over have this simple icon, which is all started as an icon and was used on social media and online sources to show support for equal rights. Which has easily been one of the most popular social media activists groups in recent time. The impact of social media memes in respect to activism has a tricky balance. People can use it positively or edit the image and easily bash the group it is supporting. Online activism only works when the right people are involved. However, there is no way of managing outsiders. It is anyone’s game on social media.
The other popular use of social media tactics in online activism is hashtags. One that has been popular throughout the time of hashtags has been #blacklivesmatter. Since most activists are protesting and spreading the word to due changes in the political world. Either they want something passed or are angry about something that has passed. Hence, the recent Supreme Court decision to allow same-sex marriage. That has been a huge controversial topic, as anyone who reads, listens, or sees any type of media. (Or you can just swear off social media for the day!) In Controlling the Message by Victoria Farrar-Myers and Justin Vaughn, the change in political activity due to social media is discussed. Chapter 9 states, “We expect that the social nature of the political activity on SNS [social networking system] is changing the notions of appropriate offline forms of political participation among users” (Farrar-Myers & Vaughn, Ch. 9). By there being popular hashtags and activist groups online, it is giving people in society something to talk about. The issues on social media are spreading into the real world and are getting discussed due to the nature of the spreading online. With over 1 million posts on Instagram with #blacklivesmatter, it is obvious that people have been talking and spreading the importance of the issue. Whether it is online or in person, people are using social media to make advances in issues. It is not able to change the world on it’s own, but it is certainly helping.
Not only is #blacklivesmatter happening on Instagram, but also Twitter and Tumblr. Within an hour, 194 new posts with the hashtag have been tweeted. Many people also use multiple hashtags to support multiple issues or protests at once. For instance,
— B R Sanders (@B_R_Sanders) June 27, 2015
The user is not only supporting equality and #Lovewins, but also remembering and reminding about the importance of black lives too.
The issue that arises is when certain issues are solved and others are not. People are able to express the frustration of the matter through using all of the hashtags. By using the hashtags for all the issues, it allows everyone to see it involved on any side.
If I hashtag love wins a rainbow heart will appear but what will happen when I hashtag #BlackLivesMatter ? .. Oh nothing
— Donnie (@94Donnie_) June 27, 2015
It is clear that this person was offended by the recent addition to the #lovewin so they did not actually use the hashtag, but it goes to show that by using them in social media activism, many different opinions and insights can be seen.
Whether it is about gay marriage, race equality, or an upcoming candidate, social media is able to play a huge role in the impact of activist groups on and offline. It is a powerful tool and it needs to known that it can be a game changer, for the better or worse.
Works Cited:
Farrar-Myers, Victoria A., and Justin S. Vaughn. Controlling the Message: New Media in American
Farrar-Myers, Victoria A., and Justin S. Vaughn. Controlling the Message: New Media in American
Political Campaigns. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.
Vie, S. (n.d.). In defense of "slacktivism": The Human Rights Campaign Facebook logo as digital activism | Vie | First Monday. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
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