Social Media, A Friend or Foe to Youth Activism- Research Essay Aruba Azmat Final Draft PDF

Preview

Summary

the final essay of course...

Description

ENG1100[J]

November 15, 2020 Social Media, A Friend or Foe to Youth Activism? Despite what many might argue, youth have always been on the frontlines of activism and crucial players fighting against various injustices. A glimpse into the history of social justice movements shows that youth are the driving force behind change. Youth have always actively participated in multiple fights against oppression; this is present in all parts of the world and not exclusive to the western world. Youth have come together and faced prejudice head-on throughout history. As technology advanced and social media spread, activism in young people has also increased. Social media gives a platform to various vulnerable groups, allowing them to voice their opinions and circumstances, thus contributing to why today’s youth advocate for different causes. The world can hear the voices of minorities through social media. Accessibility to information enables youth participation in movements. Youth are more aware of world issues due to communication that comes from social media. Marginalized groups have consistently been abused and forced to be silent by their oppressors and society. Minorities do not possess the luxury of sharing their views in the same manner as their privileged counterparts. Unfortunately, even today, these groups of people endure hardship when attempting to speak out. Several apps and websites are dedicated to being a place of communication and an outlet for marginalized groups. Minority groups use social media to engage in conversation amongst themselves about their personal experiences and various obstacles they must overcome. It also offers anonymity to individuals who desire to engage in conversation but do not want to be judged. Social media gives minorities such as the Black community a place to meet and discuss Black identity (Brinkman and Jacobi). Black people have suffered immensely from oppression and still are. In a simple search, one can find hundreds of

hate crimes against Black people. Social media has allowed Black people to show and share firsthand the vile and disgusting injustices they face. The sharing of these acts lets non-Black people directly see what Black people have to live through relentlessly. It raises awareness and starts a conversation about unspoken truths. On May 25, 2020, a police officer kneeled on the neck of George Floyd, who repeatedly shouted that he could not breathe. The police officer dismissed Floyd’s cries for help and ultimately murdered him. The entire barbaric act was recorded and uploaded onto the internet. The world was enraged, and people all over the world protested police brutality in solidarity with African-Americans. Social media helped raise awareness about George Floyd’s death amongst other African-Americans like Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain. All over social media, people were sharing posts to educate and raise awareness about the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality against Black people. Young people around the globe advocated for Black people. Studies show that “Social media has also been identified as a potential site of empowerment and resistance for minority youth” (Brough et al.). Platforms such as social media allow minorities to share their experiences, and consequently, people want to support them. Injustices evoke emotions, and most of the time, people become more aware, resulting in activism. Giving a voice to a specific minority can build an alliance between minorities to protect and fight for one another. Most people want equality but are ignorant of injustices because they have not experienced them or do not know anybody who has. Social media is a place where minorities can educate people and help them understand what they go through. Today’s youth is aware of the many oppressions minorities face through social media, which results in youth advocating against many injustices.

The advancement of technology has made communication between people rapid and easy. Social media has become the main form of connecting without being face to face. The accessibility to information and fast communication that is part of social media allows today’s youth to participate and engage in various movements with ease. Movements have been part of society for a long time; however, today’s creations are more comfortable to organize but are just as effective, if not more. Information regarding any issue can be found easily on the internet in minutes. A group of researchers interviewed hundreds of protestors, and their reports revealed that “social media played a central role in shaping the decisions that individuals made regarding whether to attend protests, the logistics of the events, and the likelihood of success” (Kidd and McIntosh). Social media influences people over how they engage with activism. When information is accessible, people can research on their own and learn more about an issue without relying on someone else. Easy access to information on social media allows people, specifically the youth, to be aware of movements happening around them. Studies have indicated that “social media use in general facilitates political engagement by providing political information, stimulating discussions, and maintaining social networks” (Shen et al.). Social media has become a platform for people to learn information and discuss it with others over the internet and in person. The sharing of information about injustices among youth makes it more probable for them to join and engage in movements dedicated to those injustices. Recently, youth have been actively advocating for solutions to climate change and stressing the importance of reducing pollution and taking care of the earth. Many researchers have noticed that “Social media present[s] an opportunity to voice one's concerns about climate change and the need for action, as well as document the discontent among citizens by posting pictures of the protest event” (Boulianne et al. N.pag.). Youth from all parts of the world

organized protests that advocated for climate change. Social media allowed them to manage these movements and encourage other young people to get involved as well. The turnout of the protests was spread through social media and made a statement to the world that the youth want and expect change. The success of the protests showed the world that young people are taking action. Many people will say that protesting and taking a photo and sharing it has no significance and does not equate to real change. This is incorrect; looking at the history of revolution and activism, the catalyst for change is awareness. Change cannot happen when nobody is aware of what needs to change. The only reason people do not see sharing posts as advocating is because of how simple it is. When social media was not present, people had to go around physically and spread information. According to Ph.D. Jordan Fullam,“Social media activism differs from traditional protest methods because it is faster, more diffuse and non-hierarchical due to the use of social media and text messaging” (N.pag.). The direct relationship between social media and access to information allows the youth to engage in many social movements. The participation of youth results in adolescents being activists for many issues because of how accessible information on social media has become. In the activism of today’s youth, the range of their advocation is incredibly broad. Young people are regularly spreading awareness about world issues and injustices from all over the world. They are not only advocating for injustices that take place near them or in their country but locations across the globe. Social media’s ability to connect people internationally allows youth to speak out against global injustices. A study on young people showed that they “relied on social media for access to relevant news and information, because mainstream news might not cover certain topics or communities of interest to them” (Brough et al.). Mainstream media has a habit of focusing on the western world and having a bias towards countries with people of colour

or people who practice religions other than the most common sectors of Christianity. Youth can find information about world problems and experiences of people living through the crises on social media. Social media’s role in raising awareness on international issues can be seen in activism regarding Uighur Muslims. Uighur Muslims are an ethnic group of China facing genocide from the Chinese government. There has not been any news or reports made by the mainstream media. However, many individuals used social media to ensure that people are aware that we are currently watching genocide happen right in front of us. There have been several posts made about the camps and conditions of Uighur Muslims. Youth have been the main contributor to raising awareness and advocating for them through social media. Social media has allowed youth to participate in international movements despite geographical differences. The #EndSars movement in Nigeria led by youth became global, and people worldwide supported the Nigeran people and condemned the President of Nigeria for his actions. Social media’s inclusivity and availability in all parts of the world allow youth to be aware of multiple world issues and advocate for any cause they believe in despite differences. Overall, it can be said that social media is a phenomenon that enables many to speak out, which is a significant factor to why youth advocate for a plethora of issues. Social media’s important role in today’s youth and their activism is undeniable. There can be many debates over whether or not social media harms or benefits young people. Nevertheless, social media is becoming more and more fundamental in society. It is essential to accept social media’s value and find ways to use social media to our advantage while causing minimal harm.

Works Cited Brinkman, Nolan, and Laura Jacobi. "The Projection of Racial Identity on Social Network." Journal of Intercultural Communication, no. 52, 2020, pp. 1. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/scholarly-journals/projection-racial-ide ntity-on-social-network/docview/2429836187/se-2?accountid=14701. Accessed 12 Dec. 2020. Brough, Melissa, et al. “‘Good Social Media?’: Underrepresented Youth Perspectives on the Ethical and Equitable Design of Social Media Platforms.” Social Media + Society, vol. 6, no. 2, Apr. 2020, p. 205630512092848, journals-sagepub-com.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/doi/full/10.1177/2056305120928488, 10.1177/2056305120928488. Accessed 15 Nov. 2020. Boulianne, Shelley, et al. "'School Strike 4 Climate': Social Media and the International Youth Protest on Climate Change." Media and Communication, vol. 8, no. 2S1, 2020, p. 208+. Gale Academic OneFile, https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A626675405/AONE?u=otta77973&sid=AONE&xid=304 85b45. Accessed 15 Nov. 2020. Fullam, Jordan. “Becoming a Youth Activist in the Internet Age: A Case Study on Social Media Activism and Identity Development.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, vol. 30, no. 4, Apr. 2017, pp. 406–422, doi:10.1080/09518398.2016.1250176. Accessed 15 Nov. 2020. Kidd, Dustin, and Keith McIntosh. “Social Media and Social Movements.” Sociology

Compass, vol. 10, no. 9, Sept. 2016, pp. 785–794, onlinelibrary-wiley-com.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/doi/full/10.1111/soc4.12399, 10.1111/soc4.12399. Accessed 15 Nov. 2020. Shen, Fei, Chuanli Xia, Marko Skoric. “Examining the Roles of Social Media and Alternative Media in Social Movement Participation: A Study of Hong Kong’s Umbrella Movement.” Telematics and Informatics, vol. 47, Apr. 2020, p. 101303, www-sciencedirect-com.proxy.bib.uottawa.ca/science/article/pii/S0736585319307956?v ia%3Dihub, 10.1016/j.tele.2019.101303. Accessed 15 Nov. 2020....