#socialmediaprotest

[wnewsguru]

नई संसद भवन का सोशल मीडिया पर पोस्ट करके सख्त विरोध - News Guru

कांग्रेस के वरिष्ठ नेता जयराम रमेश ने सोशल मीडिया पर एक लंबा पोस्ट लिखकर संसद की नई इमारत की आलोचना की है। जयराम रमेश ने लिखा कि पूरे जोर-शो

नई संसद भवन का सोशल मीडिया पर पोस्ट करके सख्त विरोध

कांग्रेस के वरिष्ठ नेता जयराम रमेश ने सोशल मीडिया पर एक लंबा पोस्ट लिखकर संसद की नई इमारत की आलोचना की है। जयराम रमेश ने लिखा कि पूरे जोर-शोर से संसद की नई इमारत लॉन्च की गई थी। यह असल में पीएम मोदी के उद्देश्यों को पूरा करती है। इसे मोदी मल्टीप्लेक्स या मोदी मैरियट … Read more

[djlori]

Put down your phone 🖒 #SocialMediaProtest #PersonToPerson #Personalities #BeReal

[the-digital-lens]

Activism & Protest

The power of the hashtag 

Although activism stems right back from the beginning of time, how we engage in humanitarian movements and forms of protest has changed extensively. Waves of revolutions have whirled speculation and controversies into global phenomenas, and this has become particularly prevalent all thanks to the aide of social media.

As mentioned in one of my previous posts, although we cannot necessarily attribute social media for solely being responsible for various movements - whether big or small- the involvement of social sites have proven to often accelerate the process of activism and in raising awareness, as well as assisting in organising scheduled times and places to discuss and protest the relevant issues faced by society.

Not only is protest via social media an effective way to reach audiences on a surface that reaches far beyond the place that activism or issues may take place, but it has also been used in conjunction with mainstream media services as a valid source of news reportage.

[image: Tucker, 2016. https://abaforlawstudents.com/2016/12/01/activism-and-your-legal-career/]. 

An example of this is during Egyptian Revolution in 2011- rooting from what is commonly classified as part of the Arab Springs- where the social media platform Twitter, was used as a means of “bypassing ’newsgathering’ operations of the mainstream media.” [Gerbaudo, 2012].

Mainstream media agencies such as CNN and Al Jazeera relied heavily on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook during this time to gather the majority of their news sources from, being the most viable way to do so in this perilous dictatorship-like period that Egypt was imprisoned in. 

Hashtags trending on social networks have also been widely predominant in todays technology driven world, with usage from everyday citizens to celebrity and political influencers creating and sharing hashtags- generally via Twitter or Instagram- to act as a uniting force that spread’s a shared message.

This is widely evident when regarding terror attacks which have occurred in recent years, and the numerous hashtags which trend as a result. For example, the #prayforparis movement, which claimed the lives of 129 people in Paris on November 15 2015, attracted over 70 million supporters on Instagram [Laurent, 2017], within the first 24 hours of the incident. 

#unite

Not only did this act as a form of support and acknowledgment for those involved or closely related to the effects of the attacks, but it even took to Facebook where the social media site offered a service to users of the site to confirm whether they were safe or affected by the attacks as a means to notify friends and loved ones, but also gave the opportunity to express solidarity on the event with a global community. 

Michelle Obama is another leading example of organising awareness and unity through social media, pledging support for a large group of Nigerian school girls who were kidnapped by the terrorist group ‘Boko Haram” in 2015. She proposed a campaign through the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls and although created vast attraction to the issue, it failed to create an as successful outcome that was anticipated, with 276 girls still missing today. 

[Image: Abhishek, 2012. https://fewfleetingmoments.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/why-social-networking-activism-sucks-another-top-ten-list/]. 

[lapid2-blog]

Because of social media platforms like Twitter, the (civil rights case against Zimmerman) petition had over 1 million signatures within 72 hours of its creation

Feminista Jones

[jeevisms]

A Salute to Young Opinions

Recently, scrolling through my Tumblr, I came across a “reblog” from a young man in Texas I follow. I was initially introduced to his Tumblr by my husband (an avid photographer) who showed me some of the young man’s reblogs of mountain photos, idyllic settings, and some of the more humorous gifs, pics, and text posts. I was surprised to find that the young man was still in High School as I pegged him to be older given the maturity of content.

I know that last statement might seem a bit elitist but understand were my perspective comes from. I have been teaching composition (primarily argumentative writing) at the university level for the last few years. Prior to that, I had been in the military, served as a police officer and worked with all walks of life in the hospitality industry—from the greasy spoon to the private home of a billionaire. My experiences give my a uniquely but thoroughly shaped view on most subjects and the ability to view them through a variety of lenses and perspectives.

It is in my role as an educator that I find myself most disappointed. As an instructor of argumentative writing, I require my students to pick a topic they find most interesting, irritating, or enlightening. At the beginning of every new class, I find the same struggle—apathy. It is surprising to me that the most connected and informed generation in history is so apathetic. Anytime a student takes an active interest in a topic I encourage them to dig deep and think critically about the subject. Anytime they have an ardent but one-sided view on something, I push them to examine the other side and challenge their thinking. This usually either strengthens their resolve or opens their mind to a new path. So, believe me when I say I get excited when students have an opinion on anything.

Now, given that context, the fact that this young man exerts an opinion is refreshing to me. After the incidents of this summer in Ferguson and New York City, he began reblogging posts that seemed a little one-sided. Respecting his opinion, I would typically overlook those posts, only occasionally mentioning my “concern” to my husband. One of the last few posts he reblogged was a black and white picture of Darren Wilson in the hospital with the word “MURDERER” stamped across it. As someone who has worn the badge and grown up with law enforcement, I can say I have an understanding of how police officers are trained and function. These cases have suggested that all cops are criminals and every suspect is a saint. In the case of Darren Wilson, the evidence, scientific data, and eye-witness testimony (both for the suspect and the officer) point in Mr. Wilson’s favor. Yet, the public generally chose to ignore that. But this isn’t why I’m posting this.

I came the closest at that point that I ever had to responding to someone’s post. I typically opt not to because I know how pointless an argument over the internet can be and futile arguing with a 17 year-old, opinionated or not, can be. I opted to let it go.

The next day, he reblogged a “vine” of a young black girl making a joke about “killing someone” in the third grade and brandishing a toy gun. That was the post that burst my bubble. Out of genuine concern and hope for a “learning” opportunity, I broke “radio silence” and reached out to the young man. I was half surprised that he responded and yet half not surprised he responded. His counterpoint, while outlined with what I read as a bit of snark, was well-formed and I could respect his logic. His last statement about how the little girl was only joking [paraphrasing there] was what nulled his argument for me.

Too often I have seen the statement “I was only joking” used as a defense or to explain away some accident. As I indicated to the young man, my hope for this little girl is that her parents teach her that while it might be humorous in that moment in that context, that statements like that can get her in trouble in the future. I say that of children of all ages, genders, and ethnic descent. I worry about any 8 year-old, or any young child, who can make that “joke” at such a young age. What are they learning? Where are they learning it? How are they learning it?

After a couple of back-and-forths between he and I (and apparently others), the young man acknowledged that the post had received a lot of negative attention. By the time he had reblogged it, it had acquired nearly a half-million “likes” and reblogs. He acknowledged that he, in the moment, found it funny and reblogged it without thinking. This is not an acknowledgement of wrong-doing, nor do I think he should. I am glad that I was able to challenge his thinking. I think too often, people in our society are quick to become armchair activists and social media protestors. i think too often, their activism changes with the news cycles or popular trends.

I am not saying that this young man is that kind of activist or protestor. He seems to have a grasp on what he finds are worthy causes. I only hope that he, and those like him, continue to challenge their thinking and be open to other perspectives.

To that young man, keep it up. Be true to yourself, your principles and your opinions. Think critically from all angles. Stand your ground when you are challenged but be open to the views of others. We need your spirit. We need you interest. We need you. I applaud you, sir. Keep it up!

[inhabitaday]

Habit 2: Facebook and Twitter.

I didn't go on any social network once yesterday.

Despite Facebook notifications popping up on my phone.

I talked to Paige for two hours on the phone and we made plans to hang out next Saturday. During the day, I went to the Chocolate Lover's festival in Kennett Square and a restaurant called Padi. At night, I drank and hung out with Jourdan, her boyfriend Sam, and their friends Marcos, Jamie, and Eric.

These things are more social than sitting around on the computer, but are still not that exciting. It seems that being social is going to restaurants, sitting around playing kings and drinking Yuengling with friends, or talking on the phone.

Yesterday, I mostly talked and people listened. I guess I had a lot of news having been on vacation the past month. But I found that even though I listen to other people, if I don't find what they have to say resonates or makes sense to me, I don't care to really engage with them.

Like last night, Jamie mentioned that her work is taking everyone's fingerprints to enhance security at her plant because they have had some problems with felons or random people stealing things from their warehouses.

I immediately declared how over-killing it that was and why would a heating and fan company need to take everyone's fingerprints? When I worked at BBC in New York I said, we had ID cards and a security man, but no fingerprinting.

Instead of seeking to understand her story, I discounted it as stupid.

But you don't know what you don't know. Instead of making a judgment about it, I should have listened more - it was her story, not mine, to tell.

When other subjects failed to interest me, I took out my phone and being a little intoxicated, laughed slightly rudely when I received a funny text that I then forwarded to Jourdan.

I made it all about me that night. Later, with Jourdan in her room, I made a joke about all my failings with men. What I didn't realize until later was that this stuff actually really hurt me.

Today I resolve to really listen to people openly. This is easy to say - that you have taken the time to really listen to someone, without actually listening.

I will take early Ludwig Wittgenstein's advice on this own to help me accomplish my goal: "What can be said at all can be said clearly, and what we cannot talk about we must pass over in silence"