Educators Have a Responsibility to Use Technology and Social Media to Promote Social Justice

The topic of our fifth debate was educators’ responsibility to use technology and social media to promote social justice. It was a crucial topic to discuss. Before going further, it is important to know what social justice means. According to one article, “Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political, and social rights and opportunities. Social workers aim to open the doors of access and opportunity for everyone, particularly those in greatest need”.

This sentence expresses the idea that social workers aim to provide access and opportunity for everyone, especially those who are most disadvantaged. Educators, like social workers, also have a responsibility to promote social justice by ensuring that all students have access to the same opportunities to succeed. Technology can be a powerful tool for achieving this goal as it can help to level the playing field by providing access to resources, information, and opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach for some students.

For example, technology can be used to provide online educational resources to students who might not have access to traditional classroom settings, such as those who live in rural or remote areas. It can also help to bridge the digital divide by providing access to devices and internet connectivity for students who might not have access to these resources at home. By using technology in these ways, educators can help to ensure that all students have equal opportunities to learn and succeed, regardless of their socioeconomic background or location. In doing so, they can play an important role in promoting social justice and creating a more equitable society. Therefore, it can be seen that in today’s digital age, educators have the responsibility to use technology and social media to promote social justice. While some may argue that technology and social media can be distractions, there are many benefits to utilizing these tools to educate and advocate for social justice causes. In this blog post, we will explore both sides of this topic and provide real-world examples to illustrate the importance of technology and social media in promoting social justice.

Pros:

Technology and social media can be powerful tools for educators who want to promote social justice. For example, social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram can be used to spread awareness about social justice causes and to connect with others who are working towards the same goals. Teachers can use social media to share resources and engage in discussions with other educators about how to address issues such as systemic racism, sexism, and homophobia. Moreover, Scherman and Rivera (2021) investigated about this issue in their article. Their article talks about how social media was used to organize protests in Chile for social justice issues and how young Chileans were able to successfully come together for causes they strongly believed in without any official leaders. The article explores two hypotheses: that individuals who use social media are more likely to participate in protests and that those who use social media for political goals are more likely to participate in protests. Educators can share stories like this to inspire and encourage their students to be activists using social media, which can lead to direct and important activism and the betterment of society as a whole.

it is striking to point that, based on one article that I read before our class, educators have a responsibility to use technology and social media to promote social justice because it increases accessibility to a wider audience, amplifies marginalized voices, enables innovative teaching strategies, addresses bias in education, and empowers students to make positive changes. By integrating technology and social media into their teaching, educators can engage students in discussions about social justice issues and promote diversity, inclusion, and empathy for others. This helps to create a new generation of social justice advocates who can make a positive impact in their communities.

Real-world examples of the benefits of technology and social media in promoting social justice can be seen in the Black Lives Matter movement. In the wake of the murder of George Floyd in 2020, social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram were instrumental in spreading information about protests and organizing demonstrations. Educators also used social media to share resources and materials for teaching about racism and police brutality, which helped to educate a new generation of students about these important issues.

The following video is a presentation which is about teaching social justice through technology. In this presentation, different types of technology that can introduce social justice in a learning environment will be learned by the participants and ways to incorporate social justice through technology in their teaching practices will be discussed.

Cons:

While there are many benefits to using technology and social media to promote social justice, there are also potential drawbacks that educators should be aware of. For example, social media can be a breeding ground for misinformation and echo chambers. This can lead to students becoming polarized and closed-minded, which can hinder progress toward social justice.

One real-world example of the potential drawbacks of using technology and social media to promote social justice is the spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many social media platforms have been used to spread false information about the virus, its origins, and possible cures or treatments. As a result, some people have developed conspiracy theories and extreme views about the pandemic, which can hinder public health efforts to control the spread of the virus and lead to stigmatization and discrimination against certain groups of people.

Another potential drawback of using technology and social media to promote social justice is that it can be time-consuming and take away from other important aspects of teaching. Educators may find themselves spending more time on social media or researching digital resources than actually teaching their students. This can be a problem, especially for educators who already have limited time and resources.  Therefore, based on evidence in different societies, promoting social justice through technology and social media can lead to divisiveness, distract from academics, promote political bias, create controversy, and expose students to inappropriate content.

Real-world examples of the potential drawbacks of technology and social media in promoting social justice can be seen in the QAnon conspiracy theory. QAnon originated on social media platforms and has been responsible for spreading misinformation and promoting violence. Educators who use social media to promote social justice must be careful not to inadvertently spread false information or contribute to an already-polarized online environment.

Finally:

Educators do have a responsibility to use technology and social media to promote social justice. While there are potential drawbacks to using these tools, the benefits are too significant to ignore. Educators can use social media to spread awareness about social justice causes, connect with other educators, and create a more inclusive classroom environment. However, it is important to be aware of the potential drawbacks, such as the spread of misinformation and the potential for polarized online communities. By carefully considering both sides of this issue, educators can effectively use technology and social media to promote social justice and create a better world for their students.