The Importance Of Social Media

“Social media platforms held the promise of being more egalitarian and democratic than mass media in a sense that all users could equally participate and contribute content” (Dijck & Poell, 6). This explains a basic purpose of social media that remains consistent with the democratic values of freedom that the U.S. is founded upon by providing citizens with a platform where they are free to speak their mind. What makes this even more interesting is the ability for people to share their opinions on a stage that has relatively no geographical boundaries. Rather than restricting the spread of individuals’ beliefs, social networking sites help spread messages and information to anyone, faster than was previously possible. According to Dijck and Poell, “social media platforms seldom deal with ‘natural’ geographically or demographically delineated audiences; instead, they expedite connections between individuals, partly allowing the formation of strategic alliances or communities through users’ initiative” (Dijck & Poell, 8). Social networking sites are naturally designed to increase connectivity and interactions among individuals with common interests or beliefs. The idea of connectivity has significantly influenced the way in which protests are held in America and around the world.

Nowadays, social media is practically a staple in everyone’s lives. While some use it solely to stay in touch with friends or family, others wouldn’t even know the latest of current events if they didn’t have their phone notifying them that their friends are talking about it. The Internet and social media have bred a new generation of socially-aware people which has given them a platform to learn and share on. Because this generation’s growth is largely-based online and through technology, it has formed a new brand of social activism. While some feel social media has made it too easy to claim a movement or position, others believe that it is what we need to spread a message

Society’s dependence on a vast array of information and communication technology has not only changed the way we communicate but has also reinvented social activism. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook and forum websites like Reddit has given digital activism more potential than ever before to create real change. Whether the activism pertains to political, social or economic changes–digital technology allows individuals working collectively to achieve a common purpose with more ease in their pursuit of change.

The term “social media” refers to the wide range of Internet-based and mobile services that allow users to participate in online exchanges, contribute user-created content, or join online communities (Dewing). It has become common today to use applications such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to express and share your thoughts, opinions, and common interest. In Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted, writer Malcolm Gladwell touches upon the issues of social media’s role in activism vs. the traditional way of becoming a true activist Many of us today use these social networks for its beneficial approach to attract users and acquaintances to support their cause or

Social media has been able to bridge people from all around the world and connect “like-minded souls everywhere” (Gladstone). With the spread of social media comes a connectedness that has been able to organize the masses with little to no effort. Social media has made “it possible to see and talk to one another in real time” (Wortham). Social media enables individual movements to organize events that entice the participation of a multitude of people. What use to take days or sometimes months to plan could be done now with a speed not previously conceived of. A single Instagram post has the capability to organize a protest in a matter of minutes. Social media activism is more sophisticated than most people think. Social media has the power to reach people who prior to this would not be able to become involved in activism. Movements like Black Lives Matter has been able to reach people across the globe. The black lives matter movement that started in areas such as Baltimore has been able to spark protests in European countries. Equipped with the same bold rhetoric, these countries are also protesting the unproportional deaths of black males at the hands of police. During a Denmark protest “a young black man being violently subdued by police gasped, “Ik kan niet ademen,” Dutch for “I can’t breathe”—echoing Eric Garner’s last words” (Essif). Social media has been able

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social networking sites from the internet may look like just another platform to post pictures on, to share the things a person has done, or to connect to friends and families by the usage of messenger applications. However, these are not the only activities that can be done by utilizing the power of the social media and the internet. The mode of communication and interaction between the people all over the globe are now significantly being transformed by social media technologies (Edosomwan et al., 2011). These technologies have also paved the way to a different form of activism which is digital activism.

Social media has a prominent role in everyone’s lives. It is one of many ways that people communicate. For example, Facebook, Instagram, twitter, texting, and email. Although some argue that social media eliminates an intimate face-to-face connection, social media has the power to create a progressive and important change in society.

Social media has changed how social activism is done by “making it easier for the powerless to collaborate, coordinate, and give voice to their concerns” (Gladwell 68). However, this does not mean that social media has changed what a successful social activism has always required. There has been a common misbelief that when a social campaign “go viral” on the internet, it means a successful social activism. Social media can be used as a tool for the organization and the communication of real activists, but not an effective tool for starting a social change by convincing people on the internet to become real activists and take real-life action.

Social networking sites and applications such as Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized the way people speak out for social justice. Before smart phones and social media applications became the norm, protests would be organized almost entirely by word-of-mouth. This provided a challenge for organizers who struggled to make their message for social justice be heard. After smart phones and social media applications became popular, however, people were able to use social networking sites as platforms to raise their voice against social injustice. Simply, it became easier to organize protests because their message reached more people than ever before. Suddenly, people were able to react to a social injustice faster than ever before. This process

With instantaneous, ease of access to large online communities, members of society have the opportunity to communicate with, and assemble large groups. The creation of these groups would, in most cases, be impossible to congregate without social media. Additionally, online communities have proven advantageous in motivating bystanders. All popular social media hubs, such as Facebook and Twitter, have made it as simply as the click of a button to spread information. As far as political and social impact goes - the larger the group, the more efficient and likely the goal will be achieved, shown with the Ferguson protest. The extensive use, and ease of use of social media has significantly increased political participation in society.

Social media sites like Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook have become social media activism the main venue for activism because it reduces the cost and the complexity organizing mass numbers of individuals by informing them quickly through their smartphones computers and tablets to bring awareness of social and political protest. For example a activist movement against Chili's and Cedar Hill Texas through social media it spread like wildfire and many veterans rallied to support their fellow veteran without social media that would've not been

The almost omnipresent Internet transforms our lives, connecting us to family, friends, and the world in ways inconceivable only a few years ago. Through social media, we actively participate in creating, editing, and consuming a never-ending stream of data. Private corporations and protagonists of political or social change all vie to reach and engage highly targeted

In less than two decades, social media has revolutionized modern communication and information sharing. What began as a simple form of social networking has turned into innumerable platforms for people around the globe to share ideas, create and share businesses, promote brands, read news from various sources, as well as share and find vast amounts of information, among many other uses. Thus, with a few clicks of a button, people are now able to interact with someone on the other side of the world. The capabilities created through social media’s many uses have forever changed global politics, business, and interpersonal communication.

As technology develops rapidly in the modern society, the broad social influence it brings is also widely discussed, especially about its effects on social change. In the past, social movements were raised without the help of technology, specifically without social media, whereas social media has recently played a non-ignorable role. The connection between social media and social activisms concerned, here come some different voices. Few people maintain that social media now has no practical influence on social change, while others hold the opposite view, thinking social media is already a crucial factor in it. Personally speaking, I agree with the second kind of view: it is true that social media is not able to create social movements by itself in today’s world, but it plays an important and essential part in making real social change.

Social media is any website that allows social interaction. Social media is growing rapidly throughout the world. More adults and teenagers are joining sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter to interact with friends, family, and strangers. The introduction of social media has changed the world in many ways. It affects each individual in different ways. Today it can be used as a very helpful tool in changing a person’s life, but at the same time cause such conflicts which can negatively impact a person. While there are some negatives associated with social media, the positives in communication all around, has made the world stronger and a better place to live in.