A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD: SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM AND ANTIRACISM
by Luba Soyei
Social media has enabled marginalised voices to be heard, but it can also turn justice into a trend and allyship into a performance. Social media was once just a space for uploading selfies, posting highlights, discovering lifestyle inspirations, recipes, staying connected with friends and meeting new people. However in recent years social media has evolved into a space where everyone is privy to participate in social media activism which is often driven by antiracism efforts aimed to challenge deep rooted systems of oppression. It is a powerful tool that also has its pitfalls.
WHAT IS SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM AND ANTIRACISM
Social media activism is the use of social network technologies, such as instagram, Twitter (now x), Facebook and, Tiktok - to promote, support and organise movements for change.
Antiracism is the active process of identifying and challenging racism by changing systems, policies, practices and attitudes. It simply goes beyond being ‘not’ racist. The two concepts, particularly with the global rise of digital culture have become intertwined in the 21st century.
In 2013, the acquittal of George Zimmerman for the murder of Trayvon Martin, marked a watershed moment of social media activism with the creation of the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. It brought international awareness to the systematic violence faced by the Black communities and shows how social media can be used both as a mobiliser and a megaphone. Since then there has been various hashtags that pushed important issues into the mainstream such as #ENDSARS & #BlackOutTuesday.
While social media enables marginalised communities to be seen and heard, it can also be a double edged sword because it can foster performative actions, and dishonesty. Understanding this complexity is important when navigating social media activism in relation to antiracism because there is risk that social media activism can be visible but not effective.
WHY IS SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM IMPORTANT?
One of the most important advantages of social media activism is it can reach a global audience in a short amount of time, creating visibility and awareness of issues affecting a community or a country. An example is the #ENDSARS movement in Nigeria, where young people used social media to expose police brutality and coordinate mass protests, this gained global solidarity largely on platforms like X and instagram. Similarly in 2020, the viral video footage of George Floyd's murder was met with global outrage, sparking protests which were largely coordinated through social media.
Furthermore social media also acts as an educational platform that fosters awareness, through short form videos, using platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram and Youtube. Creators and activists break down racism, white privilege, microaggression and many more pressing issues providing knowledge for the masses.
PERFORMATIVE ALLYSHIP AND MISINFORMATION
Social media activism does not always have clear margins. The #BlackOutTuesday where people posted black squares in solidarity with the black lives matter protest in 2020 was seen as an example of performative allyship because it lacked substance, while blocking important information. It allowed people to appear to be ‘woke’ without actually doing the work.
Misinformation on social media can rapidly distort antiracism efforts by spreading false narratives that undermine legitimate movements. These inaccuracies, often amplified by algorithms, can shift focus away from systemic issues and erode public trust in activism.
CONCLUSION
‘Revolution is not a one time event’. Social media should not be used as the main form of activism, it should be used in conjunction with real work that happens offline, in the workplace, our communities etc… Even though social media has helped to facilitate activism globally, it is not perfect. To truly fight against racism, social media tools should be used for transformative action rather than performative.
