The Power of a Hashtag

I’ve never been much of an active member of any social media outlet. It’s rare for me to intentionally go online and follow, like or post anything. I spend less than  thirty  minutes a day  on social  media which  I know is something not many  of my  peers can say. However, even then, when something happens that causes shock-waves in America. Whether its Kim Kardashian's exaggerated photo-shoots or the verdict on a controversial trial, I’ll hear about. Not only that, but I will know every perspective there is, know what experts and viewers globally have to say about it. I can attain all of this information, by clicking a hashtag. The hashtag is primarily  used on twitter to  demonstrate emotion , thoughts , support and so  on  but it has become so much  more than  that. When a hashtag is used by a large group  of people , it becomes a trending topic , giving it the power of exposure to  all  online users. This power has created a new realm of self-expression, community building and one can even say  a culture. I am  not a twitter users, and yet I will  come across the Twitter hashtag that has made it’s was to  the list of trending topics. The power of Hashtags and twitter has become so significant that News stations use them  to  create a more personal  relationship  with their audience. This makes for a larger audience and a more accessibility to the lives of this audience. I myself, am not a twitter user , but a trending hashtags is capable to  make it’s way  to  me where I may  be on the internet. For example, I quickly  found what #breaktheinternet was when there was comical  re- creations posted  all  over the internet. Of course there are a lot more socially  beneficial  uses to the hashtag than to see Kim K's behind. Hashtags have become movements, the users have become advocates and activists, expressing their ideals and views and supporting the views of their peers. Tweets has become the real voice of America. The majority  of america's population sits in young adults been the age of seventeen  and 30, which  happen  to be the primary  users of tweeter. When  American's do  not feel that the media sufficiently covers the controversial  topics and events going on in a America, or better yet ; when they  disagree with  the Media's choice in  words ; they  take their hashtag power and trend the truth. Twitter has become a go  to  new's source for a large portion  of America,  from  my  personal  observation, a person is more likely  to  loyally  follow a hashtag than  they  are to  follow an actual  reports from  say CNN or Fox. Twitter has the power to lead rebellions, ruin reputations  and cause controversial discussions; but Twitter can also  feed on to social integration and unity. Hashtags have the capability for bringing strangers together from all over the world  through  common  interests and passions, These passions  and strong opinions create the space for discussion  and unified encouragement for social change. 

Online Activisim

For our generation, involvement in social media is inevitable. Whether you religiously follow every  celebrity on Instagram or articles you  read online link you  to  different blogs and profiles; social media  and the type of essence and interaction it possess is everywhere. When  something is as present as social media is in a person’s everyday  life, it’s important to make use of it. Online activism is a way  that we can turn  something that is more commonly  used for entertainment into a promotion for change. Everything that is placed online, is placed there with  intention; it's activism , whether online or not, is intentional action  that is attempting to  bring about social  and political change. Activism allows the larger population to advocate and speak for minority groups that are being discriminated against in order to  reach legislative change that will  benefit these minority groups. One may  assume that productive activism  consists of demonstrations, protests, boycotts sit ins and so  on , however; online activism  has the potential to cause a shock-wave of change; all that is needed in this decade is a catch Hashtag. Many  might say  that social  media has actually caused alienation and isolation , and rather than contributing to  helping an individual  real  their full  human potential through  interaction with  others, it causes harm. However, for others being active  online, is their ideal and most production form of communication with  their peers , and more importantly, the international  community. As defined in Linda Steiner's Oppositional Decoding as an Act of Oppositional Decoding ;  communication  , as it is through the internet, is a ritual  process for circulatory transforming and Maintaining a social group's culture ( Carey, 1975). 

When  communicating online, there is no  filter for what is visible to the entire world, for the most part. This opens the opportunity  for  advocating for the Human  Rights of many  minority  groups not only in  The United States , but all  over the world. Due to  the  power of the dominant groups in different communities and the structure that is in  place, there are certain  truths that are pushed under the rug to avoid a civil  rebellion. As members off these communities and these societies everyone has the given  right to  be  informed about how legislative and communal decisions will  effect them. In result of the dominant groups efforts to  maintain  what they  perceive to  be an orderly  flow in  society , what is released by  media outlets is often times hidden behind white lies. Through  Online activism , activists can reach a larger population  and approach  global  news in a more inclusive, progressive , relate-able format that can lead to  more productive peaceful protests. As activists try  to  spread the word about their passion  for social  justice,  social  media assists on  making involvement possible for any person  who's interested. For example , if an organization is trying to  put together a peaceful  protest, they  can  efficiently rally  up  participants  online, as well as gain supports from  afar ; even if they  can not actually  be there.  We have become technologically advanced enough to  have our support and presence be in more than  one place  at a time and we should embrace that power.The language a government official  uses to  address an even will not be the same as that of a person looking at the event through  moral  rather than  legal  lenses. This is when it be comes most important to  use the internet to put the injustice we see in the world into  the perspective for the rest of the world looking from the outside in  , in  any  issue, anywhere. The  click  of a thumbs up  on  Facebook, a double tap  on Instagram  or re tweet on  twitter , the domino  effect can lead to international  recognition of what really  matters.