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Social media and its ability to put a megaphone in the hands of the disadvantaged.

This week we covered the origin of Black Twitter and how significant its influence was on social justice. Black Twitter became a space of mobilization, a space to find information and raise awareness of social issues and how to bring that awareness to others.

Social media continues to evolve and with it so has activism for marginalized communities and the disadvanted. These communities have found their voices on Tik Tok, Instagram and Facebook and used these platforms to bring awareness to issues not covered by mainstream media. We have seen the rise of #MeToo, #WomensMarch, and #TakeaKnee to all promote some sort of action from those who will listen.

One clear example of this in 2024 has been the rise of boycotts and protests over the United States funding of Israel in their "war on Hamas." We have seen how quickly word can spread for "Days of Action," protests, and large-scale phone banks. One post online has the ability to unite thousands within minutes and days. The response to social injustice can be almost immediate.

Social media has become the central hub for spreading communication and has amplified these voices much like a megaphone. News and information have access to so many more people and provoke responses from those who share the same beliefs or want to support the cause. Social media has given these communities a gas pedal and a megaphone to help fuel change. It has been one of the best things about social media. Giving a voice to those who are often overlooked or silenced and not just any voice, a loud one.

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"People who have been affronted or hurt or wounded finally had a voice to make gatekeepers take notice." -Andre Brock on Black Twitter

This quote speaks to the power of social media and its ability to amplify marginalized voices.

Source: Ten years of Black Twitter: a merciless watchdog for problematic behavior

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"Contrary to the common assumption that toxic interactions deter engagement, the researchers found that toxicity does not discourage users from participating."

This article follows research of human behavior on 8 different social media sites and over 500 million comments spanning 34 years. What they found is that no matter the platform or conversation type toxic behavior could make its way in.

Some key findings were that the longer the conversation, typically about conflicting viewpoints, the higher the likelihood that the conversation would become toxic. They also found that even if someone engages in this type of behavior it typically will not deter them from revisiting or remaining on the app.

It is an interesting study and goes well with what we have learned this week about Trolling, as well as remind us that there is no way to escape it. When everyone has access to a keyboard, anyone can become a troll or partake in toxic behavior.

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For those unfamiliar this is Bisan. She has been using social media as a way to amplify the voices of Palestinian people from the beginning of the assault on their territory that started last October. She often starts her videos with the phrase " It's Bisan from Gaza and I'm still alive."

Social media has been a useful tool when it comes to sharing news that mainstream media will not cover. She is an example of how those who are oppressed or marginalized can use social media to raise awareness of systematic issues and challenge others to raise criticism of the status quo. Just as #BlackTwitter was able to raise a movement, Bisan and others from Gaza have done the same here in the United States. By giving daily updates of videos and pictures she has inspired people around the world to challenge politicians as well as boycott large companies until they pull their support for Israel and declare a ceasefire. She is an example of how powerful social media can be when it comes to activism in a digital age.

Image credit @hb0m8creative on Instagram

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We all know trolls are looking for attention. They hope to make you angry, react and respond. But this is how I imagine an internet troll at work. This video is 10/10. A great representation of how ridiculous it is.