Race and the Digital: Racial Formation and 21st Century Technologies

Fad Activism

I think the conversation we had last week was very fruitful and it definitely made me think about online activism more. I've always had mixed thoughts about it, because I can see how the fad of a hashtag or a video can manifest itself into a simple re-share and not go beyond that. However, on the other hand.. that in and of itself raises some type of awareness for the reblogger and his/her followers that they may not have had before. In my head it had always been a good thing, because it offers a little bit MORE even though it isn't enough. Therefore, I liked the challenge that hashtag activism can be limiting by offering a narrow view of certain issues.

To address your second question-- I talked about it a bit in class-- I use Facebook a lot to express my personal opinions on social issues and I really like to reblog pertinent videos/articles. I follow news sources like BBC America, and special interest pages like WeAreMitu (their description is: WeAreMitu is a home away from home for Latinos in the U.S. We are young, edgy, smart, loud, funny, relevant, proud, united..we are unapologetically Latino).

I have to say that I thought about a video I once shared about the Flint Water Crisis. I remember thinking... "I shared it, but??" I didn't feel at all impactful from it. I was shocked, obviously, but I didn't do anything else.. not even research it further. So now that I can reflect on all of our conversations, I understand digital social activism as a supplement to a physical movement. I consider now that reblogging that video created more awareness and that I showed support to my friends who are actually engaged in the movement as a collective whole.

Finally, I think pairing videos with STEP TWO instructions of reblogging (i.e. meeting up at a certain place for a rally) is even more beneficial and can enhance digital activism.

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