In the midst of the campus and class discussions, the role of social media in movements and affecting change has been discussed, though not in as much depth as I believe is necessary. Today, many people's lives revolve around their computer and their phones, and often people have some form of social media on both, whether it is Facebook, Twitter, Yik Yak, Instagram, Snap Chat, or any of the countless others, meaning that they always have access to it. The recent events, both on campus and in Ferguson, regarding issues of race in particular, but also homophobia and sexism, raise the question of whether social media is more harmful or helpful to these causes.
In both cases, it seems that social media has been part of the problem as well as part of the solution. Some sites allow users to post anonymously, giving people more freedom to speak freely without judgment, which is what led to the hateful comments written on Yik Yak on the Rhodes campus. As hateful and awful as these comments are, without Yik Yak, it is doubtful that we would be discussing race relations at Rhodes as much as we are. In Ferguson, it was social media, not any news station, that eventually drew national attention to the death of Mike Brown. However, social media also allows for cruel, insensitive, and racist comments about the murder of Brown to be posted for people around the world to see, which only make the situation more incendiary, not only in Ferguson, but in other cities with high racial tensions.
It is fascinating to think of social media's role in affecting change, especially when comparing it to the civil rights movement before these innovations. As we have discussed in class, local movements had to call in someone famous, such as Martin Luther King, Jr., in order to gain attention from the media. Now, however, all it takes is enough people sharing a Facebook post or a Tweet enough times for it to go viral, no media coverage required. Launching a movement and getting attention, as was done in Ferguson, requires much less effort now than it did in the times of Martin Luther King, Jr., which allows more issues to bubble to the surface. As frustrating as this can be for many people, who often just want the tension to ease or simply do not see these issues as their problem, it is better for these issues to be dealt with now and in the coming years rather than later.
A blog for the Civil Rights Movement class at Rhodes College, Fall 2014
Katie, it is interesting to think of the differences with the movement in the 1960s that had almost no social medias when they are predominant nowadays in our society.
ReplyDeleteI do think that the medias can play a major role in promoting awareness of the current African American situation. However, social medias do not always convey the right ideas. One of the previous articles about Raven-Symoné comes to my mind; she said that she felt more American than African American and suddenly everyone was talking about it, reacting and judging. Social Medias can be a great way to show what is happening to the world but it also conveys the wrong idea that we are allowed to judge others because they are publicly declaring something; social medias do not convey the values of open-mindedness and understanding that were promoted by the Movement. As you said, they are part of the problem and the solution.
To go along with Laura's comment, I also think that people feel a certain entitlement when it comes to social media. When they hear of an event through someone else's status, they seem to feel that they know everything about the event without doing any of the necessary research. There is a lack of a physical receiver for their comments, so they are allowed to post any type of comment they want without worrying about hurting anyone's feelings. Event details can get warped in transit throughout cyberspace, and this becomes dangerous.
ReplyDeleteIn the 1960s when there was no speedy social media like Facebook or Twitter, all news was learned in the newspaper or spread by word of mouth. There is likely an aspect of warped news when it is spread by word of mouth as well, but at least they had real people discussing the issues. Having a small Yik Yak back-and-forth does not constitute someone as a "conscientious activist." It is important to bring the conversation out of our apps into the real world.