How Hashtags Changed the World in 2015
Hashtags have been around ever since the invention of Facebook and Twitter. Originating in a cool way to express feelings. Hashtags are a way of connecting a tweet or status through a link which shares a common connection. Throughout 2015 there have been many social alterations in culture and the hashtags have been there for it. The world has changed and in many ways it has become a lot darker and scarier. Through social media and hashtags it has shown that younger generations of today are standing together and creating some positivity. Today, hashtags are used when people talk about TV shows even to the extent that when a tweet is posted an emoticon appears at the end. For instance, during Eurovision each hashtag was an abbreviation of each country which then featured its flag. In 2015 #JeSuisCharlie became twitter’s most used hashtag ever. After the terrorist attacks in France the world came together through social media to show their support. ‘I am Charlie’ became the moto for everyone around the world so support those who were hurt or affected by what had happed. After Trayvon Martin’s death and trial for his own murder in 2012 the #BlackLivesMatter movement which really took hold in 2015 after police shootings in America. The world showed their support and a whole campaign was made in remembrance. Racism came into another form when Texas police arrested a 14-year-old Muslim boy for bringing a clock into school. #IStandWithAhmed trended around the world to show how obviously racist the incident was. Feminists called on the support of men through the #HeIsWe hashtag with celebrities like Emma Watson in the forefront. Along with this #NoMorePageThree trended nationally. Using its hashtag, it brought together all of its support from protest and online blogs into one space showing that people power can work and make a change. As more countries around the world legalised gay marriage #LoveWins trended, highlighted in Ireland. The world came together to show its support for equal marriage for all. As well as trending movements, showing support and changing the world, hashtags do have their comical sides. #BlackOrGold trended around the world and everyone argued over the colour of a dress. There are lots of people who say that the youth of today don’t see the world around them and have become narcissistic. Looking back at the hashtags over the past year, the youth of today have stood side-by-side to change how the world treats the oppressed and gave a voice to those who are voiceless.
