I have used social media for close to 20 years. In addition to being a space to share humour, and pictures it has also become a way of sharing information, and drawing attention to issues. In the video shared below Teja Smith describes how social media has evolved into a powerful tool for social activists, both bringing awareness to causes and allowing individuals from marginalized communities to have more reach than they would otherwise.
Teja Smith acknowledges that social media has led to the rise of misinformation and other negative effects, but she still believes in the power of social media to drive societal change. Dr. Katia Hildebrandt asserts that if we are see injustice but don’t speak on it in our online spaces we are sending the message that the “issues are not important.” Over the years I have been a both a bystander and a participant in online social justice campaigns. In our class this week I reflected that my participation in social justice online has decreased in recent years, and upon examination of my social media this is true. I used to say more, but after a while I started to find the online arguments exhausting and repetitive. That doesn’t mean that I say nothing. I have shared information about voting, posts from my union and I have commented on major conflicts in the world. I also have had the opportunity to travel, and sometimes in sharing my journey my political views come through. For example, I went to Israel and the West Bank in April of 2023, and I shared images of the walls that separate the Palestinians from the Israelis, and relayed the experiences of what living and working there was like for our Palestinian guide. Most people I know haven’t had the opportunity to see what it was like to live in this high conflict part of the world, so I like to think I made them aware of some of the injustices that I observed.
Although I say less, I am not silent. I think what I have become is measured, hopefully not in a self-censorship way. I think that life experience, my travels, and exposure to diverse viewpoints has softened my views, and made me more careful. I like to think that the things I share have made some difference but I will admit it is hard to change hearts and minds.
My grandfather had a saying that “A man convinced against his will, remains the same opinion still.” I have no idea where he got this, but I think it applies to social media. One of the main accusations levelled against social media is that it creates echo chambers. These echo chambers give social license to some of our darker impulses. One of the things that has weighed on me is that I think that there is as much, if not more negative social change, and misinformation spread by social media as there is positive social change. I don’t think that is a good argument to stay silent though. Humans are social creatures, and can be swayed by the perception that certain behaviours are acceptable. I don’t think we need to react to everything we notice, but we need to say enough to ensure that the spaces we participate in don’t give social license to things that we disagree with.
Although I think speaking up is in a sense my moral duty I also think that real change happens outside of social media. Malcolm Gladwell states in this article that individuals that participate in real social change often have strong ties to one another and the impacted community. In order to get individuals to participate in social media activism the ask needs to be small, such as sharing a post with a hashtag, or changing their photo to a symbol. High risk activism requires stronger ties than those on social media. I think that changing the world requires us to participate in our local communities. We draw awareness and hopefully the eyes of governments and large media organizations, but if there isn’t real world action to back up these campaigns then I don’t believe real change can happen.
In my work for the social justice club for our school I stumbled across the video below, and the closing line is a bible verse that I think is applicable. The verse is: He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8. I think I need to speak in every space I am present in because it is required of me as a human being, but I also think that this need to be accompanied by acts of justice and humility in my community.
Thank you for sharing such a deeply reflective post. Your words really resonate, especially the distinction you draw between speaking up and acting with intention. I appreciate how you acknowledge the nuance of social media activism without dismissing its potential. That Micah 6:8 verse is such a grounding reminder. Like you, I believe our presence, both online and offline, should reflect our values, and that justice and humility must go hand in hand. Your point about strong ties being the foundation of real change made me pause and reflect on how I can better support community action, not just digital discourse. This was a powerful reminder to be mindful, measured, and also brave.
Karissa 🙂
Thanks for sharing this powerful reflection. I really felt your honesty, especially around how your voice online has changed over the years. I can relate to that feeling of exhaustion from online debates—it’s easy to get discouraged when conversations feel repetitive or polarizing.
Your travels and the way you’ve used those experiences to share perspectives really struck a chord with me. It’s one thing to talk about injustice, but it’s another to offer a window into it through lived experience. I love that you described your voice now as “measured”—that really resonated. It’s not about being silent, but about being thoughtful and intentional.
That quote from your grandfather and the Micah verse you ended with were both such grounding reminders. Thank you for this—it gave me a lot to reflect on!