Online activism, social media and young people
Social media has become a new and instrumental destination for young people on social issues – e.g. the Black Lives Matter movement, #MeToo, etc., especially during the covid-19 pandemic. This is sometimes referred to as social activism.
Social media is key in sharing this type of information to all those who might want it. For example, Instagram is more receptive to young people and is a great way for sharing content. A simple hashtag, meme, image on Instagram can be seen by millions of people in just seconds.
As well as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Go-fund Me, online petitions and even TikTok, are all other platforms young people have used to share, discuss and raise funds about social injustices. Some online campaigns have even successfully forced governments to pass certain laws on the back of them.
However, content shared on these platforms can sometimes contain harmful images in order to
get a shock value from the audience. This can be particularly upsetting to young children – so it’s important to take practical steps to manage what they see online where you can. When done correctly, online campaigns, petitions and fundraisers are a great way to support a cause. However, there have been instances where these have been fake and have therefore caused the spread of misinformation, hate speech and also fraud.
The spread of misinformation highlights the lack of experience, knowledge, and naivety in young people in social media activism.