Following the devastating terrorist attacks in Paris on November 13, the world has shown incredible solidarity. Vigils have been organized around the world, from Rio de Janeiro to Moscow to Hong Kong. The citizens of France have demonstrated tremendous bravery in the face of tragedy and stepped up, offering their homes and donating blood, for those in need.
For the majority of the world, the tragedy and its aftermath were most visible on social media. #PrayForParis and #StandWithParis are both trending on Instagram and Twitter. You undoubtedly know at least one person who has opted for the customized French flag Facebook profile picture.
Social media is great for many reasons. It facilitates global communication and allows for real-time and accessible responses to any range of situations. It encourages information sharing and unites people.
On the night of the attacks, many French citizens took to Twitter and shared that they had a #PorteOuverte (open door) for those who needed a safe place to stay. Following Oklahoma’s 2013 tornado, people took to Facebook to upload photos they had found amid the rubble with the hopes of returning them to their owners and bringing comfort and joy to people who had lost everything.
These are amazing gestures. Ones that would be far less efficient and powerful without the aid of social media.
But, as always, there is more to it.
The outpour of social media coverage immediately following the Paris attacks resulted in the spread of a lot of misinformation. Anyone with a computer or mobile device can contribute to the Twitter, Instagram and Facebook conversation, and when people post in haste, photos and messages are often taken out of context. The news is so quickly reposted and shared, some downright false rumors are perpetuated. This is harmful, not productive.
It’s important to maintain a critical eye. It’s incredible to demonstrate support and solidarity in the face of terror and tragedy, but a hashtag doesn’t always translate to tangible change. Hashtag activism is a step toward activism. Tweeting can make people feel like they are doing something, when really they aren’t doing anything at all.
It feels great to add your voice to a movement or cause that matters. And there is no doubt that trending hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter and #BringBackOurGirls raised awareness, but a lot of questions remain about whether simply “raising awareness” really cuts it. As one Washington Post article said of the #BringBackOurGirls tweeters: “whether they’re helping the roughly 250 schoolgirls kidnapped in Nigeria or hopping on some kind of first-world digital bandwagon depends, frankly, on whom you ask.” Some people argue hashtagging is a problematic trend, one that oversimplifies or sentimentalizes issues, without accomplishing anything.
Of course, no matter what perfectly well-meaning citizens do, there is always going to be a backlash. And a backlash to the backlash. And a backlash to the backlash to the backlash. This is the cycle of history, and in the digital age when there are plenty of thoughtful, concerned or just plain judgemental people ready to add their voice to the mix this ping-ponging of opinions happens all the faster.
I think it’s totally unproductive to attack social media users who, largely, have only the best intentions at heart. Whether people #hashtag because they care, or simply because it’s a trend, or so people think that they care, it doesn’t really matter. At least people aren’t falling silent.
When people are hundreds of miles away from where a tragedy occurs, tweeting can feel like the only option and it can have a healing effect on those affected--who doesn’t want the support of others? It can also inspire people to help in more tangible ways as they engage further with the online conversation and learn more about what is needed and where.
Rolling eyes and publically shaming is hardly productive. Encouraging people to do more is a more useful response. Of course the world should #StandWithParis, but let’s also push it a little farther.
Let’s show compassion to all victims of terrorism everywhere.
Let’s ensure the Global Goals are a success so that peace and justice can prevail.
Let’s practice tolerance in our everyday lives, to demonstrate that we do not succumb to fear.
Let’s push our leaders to welcome Syrian refugees, because now more than ever their safety and well-being should be a top priority.
Let’s stop discrimination and violence when it literally happens right in front of us, whether on the street or at work. Speak up, report crimes and wrongdoings, offer people support. In those situations….talk, don’t tweet.
And let’s remember that there are innumerable tragedies and worthy causes that never make it to trending #hashtag status, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth the world’s utmost attention. Don’t let the noise surrounding one issue silence the importance of others. It isn’t fair that only some deaths become social media sensations.
At Global Citizen we constantly call on our readers and fellow global citizens to “Take Action” in the form of signing petitions, sending emails, and tweeting. It's an effective way to get things done and mobilize citizens around a cause. But Global Citizen doesn’t pretend that this online action is THE answer to all of the world's problems, and we don’t doubt that a lot of powerful change comes from individual people doing. And we hope that our words inspire people to keep doing more.
Social media conversations often peak and then die out as soon as the next trending #hashtag comes the world’s way. I feel confident that this won’t happen with Paris. The attacks were too terrible, too big, and too shocking. This time the world has the chance to catalyze a larger, international change. So let’s remember to go beyond the tweets and Facebook posts, and make sure that this change is for the good.