When considering the value of social media platforms, it’s important to recognize how valuable they are to civil rights movements and marginalized communities. At a basic level, they provide both anonymity and the ability to coordinate on a large scale. This is particularly important in cases of state crackdowns on demonstrators, such as the Hong Kong protests. However, upon closer inspection, these platforms also provide these groups with a measure of marketability and visibility that they would not otherwise be able to obtain. For example, the Black Lives Matter has circulated many of the images and stories of police brutality through social media.
This has allowed them to capture the hearts and minds of many individuals who would otherwise not experience or witness these events. Conversely, counter movements are able to make the same use of these platforms, leading to an abundance of contradictory information, narratives and ideologies all vying for headlines and attention. Whether or not we believe these images and narratives comes down in large part to what appeals to our own confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is a product of perceptual constancy, where our past experiences shape our present and future worldview. However, a particularly potent message or event can bypass this bias and make people far less apathetic than they were before. In the case of George Floyd’s murder by police officer Derek Chauvin, social media allowed activists to share complete footage of the events leading up to his death directly with the American people. Civil rights movements have uncovered an important tool in social media. It’s difficult to ignore an injustice when you can clearly see it unfold.
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