The Double-Edged Sword of Online Activism
Written by Kole Kemple
Graphics by Jade
Patterns are everywhere: in nature, sequences of events, and even our own history. Throughout the history of mankind a pattern of accomplishment has been established that proves that change, the type of change that makes history, is accomplished far more efficiently if it is being worked towards by a group of people, rather than just a single individual. Movements such as the Civil Rights Movement, the Pride Movement, and countless others throughout history had all been backed by the support of a sea of like-minded people working toward a common goal. That same pattern is still in motion today, and has since adapted to our modern world. Today, what once was started through location-based meetings, can be started through a single post on instagram. In an age of online activism, social media offers a valuable tool to groups working towards bringing attention to important issues; however, if that tool is not used wisely, it can lead to harmful consequences.
The Black Lives Matter movement, the racial justice movement that was started in 2013, was amplified to a new height following the police-sponsored murder of George Floyd in early summer 2020. The tragic murder of Floyd sparked a new wave of the Black Lives Matter movement that spread throughout the U.S. The movement worked to educate people on America’s long standing history of racial injustice and bring justice to those wronged by the corrupt system. Using social media as a vehicle to spread its message, the movement gained an increasingly large amount of support from people around the whole globe. Whether it was short videos on Tik Tok, or petitions advertised through twitter, online activism was working hand in hand with those standing behind the cause.
Inspired by Black Lives Matter, Blackout Tuesday was created originally as a social media booster for the movement. Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, the original creators of the submovement, intended for Blackout Tuesday to act as a protest to the systematic racism in America, and encouraged the Black community and allies to post a black square on Tuesday, June 2nd to show their support. What started out as an idea to support the movement, ended up backfiring into doing the opposite.
As people began to participate in Blackout Tuesday, the hashtag, #BlackLivesMatter, began being clogged up by thousands of black square posts. This new surge in the use of the Black Lives Matter hashtag caused posts that were created to educate people to be pushed down to the bottom of the hashtag’s page, and instead promoted the black square posts which had no information tied to them. Many Black Americans began to express their discomfort with Black Tuesday as more and more black squares began appearing under the hashtag. Many expressed that the event had unintentionally stepped over Black voices and promoted silence rather than action.
Blackout Tuesday is just one example of online activism gone wrong. As an effort to further educate themselves and their followers, many young people have recently begun sharing political infographics on their Instagram stories and other social media platforms. Many of these infographics offer accurate information on pressing issues through a medium that attracts younger audiences; however, sometimes the information on these infographics consist of unfactual data and biased narratives. This unfortunate pattern of misinformation causes viewers to become inaccurately educated, and can paint important events and movements in unflattering lights. While many infographic pages have been proven to be credible, it is up to the individual user to ensure that they are consuming and sharing accurate information.
Along with political infographics, another powerful tool introduced through online activism are petitions and fundraisers. Many grassroot organizations organize fundraisers and petitions to aid the cause they are fighting for. These tools can be used to display public support for a specific issue, and collect the needed funds to upkeep the organization; however, some organizations have taken advantage of people’s desire to help. Disguised as an organization raising funds and support for a suffering group, some organizations collect money only to use it to fund their own interests. In an online environment of little transparency, it is easy for people to be taken advantage of in the name of activism, and these encounters discourage people from continuing to help.
Online activism through social media offers a platform that promotes education and accessibility, but also the potential for negative consequences. In an age where activism is taking place online much more commonly, social media sites need to play their part in the stopping of the spread of misinformation. Participants in online activism need to advocate in a responsible manner that does not silence the voices of those they are fighting for, and should take the time to ensure what they are posting is credible and honest. Despite the flaws of online activism, the pros outweigh the cons. Through online activism, important issues have been shined attention on in a way that promotes inclusivity and unity. Online activism is not going away any time soon, so it’s important we adapt to it responsibly, so we, as people, can together fight for equality and justice.