Black Lives Matter: The Positive and Negative Impacts of Social Media Activism

Large civil rights movements are significantly shaped by the technology surrounding them. In the 1960’s, civil rights movements relied heavily on the use of the telephone and television to spread news and educate the public. As technology has progressed, so has the way we use it in relation to activism. The newest form of activism in terms of technology is social media activism. Black Lives Matter is an activist movement that campaigns against violence against black people in America. Black Lives Matter has set itself apart from other civil rights movements by being the first movement to rely almost completely on newly developed social media to spread its message and political agenda, as well as organize protests and demonstrations.

After the death of Michael Brown, Black Lives Matter was able to reach thousands of like-minded individuals across the country through posts on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. The use of social media helped to organize a non-violent Black Lives Matter demonstration that involved more than 500 people from over 17 different cities across America. The wide array of people that were involved in this movement represents the power social media has in fueling activist movement.

While the power of social media has been demonstrated through its use in the Black Lives Matter movement, many argue that social media activism has also hindered real social change for black people in America. The critique of social media activism in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement was brought to the forefront when T.I., a popular black rapper, recited a poem against social media activism during an award show. Through his performance, T.I. argues that social media activism causes individuals to think that posting, sharing, or liking posts on social media is enough to create social change. T.I. says, “Our society’s issues are deeper than social media posts/There’s a long list/And if you think solely making them a trending topic is going to solve them/Well, then, you’re part of the problem.” The term “slacktivism” or “slacktivist” is widely used to describe people who think they are socially conscious and creating social change because they participate in sharing and liking activist posts.

            It is undeniable that the Black Lives Matter movement owes an enormous amount of its success to social media. However, it can be argued that social media activism reduces activism to simply sharing posts, and not actually participating in demonstrations and movements. In order to get these slacktivists off their mobile devices and into the streets, a few things about the Black Lives Matter movement need to change. In general, Black Lives Matter should argue, support, and highlight real commitment and the real activity that goes on. In shining a light on real activity, instead of replacing this activity with a social media post, people will be more likely to participate in real life and not just on the internet.

Erin K.