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.