Currently, we are living through the prime of social media. And one of the main features of those sites is the ability to send out information to a platform. Because of the current climate of the United States, it’s become increasingly apparent the effect that social media has on social movement.

     A perfect example of this would be how people are utilizing Instagram during the Black Lives Matter movement. Whether you agree or disagree with the movement, there’s no denying that apps like Instagram helped it rise in popularity.

     Let’s talk about Black Out Tuesday. If you aren’t aware, Black Out Tuesday was an Instagram trend where users would post a black square with the caption “#BlackOutTuesday” to spread awareness of the injustices faced by black americans. While this was a good way to show your support for the issue, it really didn’t do much when you think about it. 

     Many people criticized the trend saying that “you can’t end racism just by posting a black square.” And they’re right. The issue then became that some people did think this was enough. The mentality became “I posted one black square on Instagram so I did my part” and that is not the mentality any movement needs.

     However, one positive that comes from social media is how easy it is to share information and resources. At the BLM movement’s peak, you could open almost anyone’s Instagram story and find a thread of petitions and reliable places to donate for the cause. And again, regardless of your stance on BLM, you have to admit that this is a good thing. 

     One app that has been used for spreading information is TikTok. The algorithm makes it so that even if you don’t have a lot of followers, you still have the opportunity to reach a large audience. That’s another good thing- it means you don’t have to be an influencer or celebrity to have a platform. 

     The biggest issue with using social media to progress a social movement is that it’s very easy for an issue to become a trend. Again, using BLM as an example, black creators on TikTok have started to criticize many white people for treating BLM as a trend. They pointed out specifically the girls who care more about ACAB (all cops are bastards) than BLM and claim that they treat it as an “aesthetic.” They even coined the name “ACAB Emily” for white girls who treat BLM as a trend.

     What this essentially means is that a person has to actually do something to help the movement. Simply writing “black lives matter” in your Instagram bio isn’t enough, you have to sign petitions, attend protests, donate, etc. And again, not that this whole thing is about BLM, any of this can be applied to other movements like climate change, the abortion debate, and any other major social issue. BLM is just at the forefront of issues right now.

     So just to reiterate, next time there is an issue that you care about, make sure you do more than just share a hashtag- get out there and protest, or sign a petition, or donate, or write a letter to your legislators, or sit down at your computer and type up an editorial.