SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A MEDIUM FOR ACTIVISM
We live in a world where technology has advanced to unimaginable heights. We have come to depend on these innovations in every aspect of our lives. Social networking is one of the best platforms to communicate with others, to make new friends and stay in touch with old ones. As a result the world has become smaller; people and cultures from all around the world have been able to intermingle and geographic borders have become less restrictive The internet and use of social media been especially instrumental defining feature of society in the last decade and the use of these tools continues to expand.
In the last few years, social media has become particularly important for activist groups. It has provided a platform for people to share their views and communicate their ideas to others. However, the internet, and therefore social media, is a double-edged sword. It creates the perception that sharing ideas is enough, that hitting the "Like" button or retweeting a message is going to raise awareness and spontaneously fix the problem. It has become what one could call a "feel-good" tool for most people.
In the last few years, social media has become particularly important for activist groups. It has provided a platform for people to share their views and communicate their ideas to others. However, the internet, and therefore social media, is a double-edged sword. It creates the perception that sharing ideas is enough, that hitting the "Like" button or retweeting a message is going to raise awareness and spontaneously fix the problem. It has become what one could call a "feel-good" tool for most people.
But, depute these drawbacks, one cannot deny that social media can be a tremendously helpful tool for activists if the Orange Revolution and the Egyptian Revolution are any indication. Communication in any movement is essential; it provides direction and organization for everyone participating. Social media provided the fastest form of information distribution to the largest number of people. Furthermore, online communication is not only able to gather more followers faster without the hassle of physically gathering everyone, it seems to be able to catch more of the younger generation's attention. Even more beneficial is the fact that it is not nearly as expensive.
When used effectively, social media can have an incredibly important role in raising awareness and getting people to take action. For example, the constant online presence of pictures and stories of the events taking place in Egypt forced the world to look at the situation like never before. The people no longer had to rely on others to tell their story, they became the journalists.
The take away message is that social media is powerful; it has the ability to start revolutions, connect people all over the globe and make people take action for a cause.
When used effectively, social media can have an incredibly important role in raising awareness and getting people to take action. For example, the constant online presence of pictures and stories of the events taking place in Egypt forced the world to look at the situation like never before. The people no longer had to rely on others to tell their story, they became the journalists.
The take away message is that social media is powerful; it has the ability to start revolutions, connect people all over the globe and make people take action for a cause.