Ranskalaista #MeToo –liikettä käsittelevä podcast on tehty osana Turun yliopiston ”Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” -kurssia. Podcastissa opiskelijat Marie Alardot, Héloïse Cao, Aurélie Dubru, Prunelle Dauty ja Nolwenn Bargain keskustelevat sosiaalisen median luomista mahdollisuuksista aktivistiliikkeille.
This podcast on the French #MeToo movement has been produced as a part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku. In the podcast, students Marie Alardot, Heloise Cao, Aurelie Dubru, Prunelle Dauty, and Nolwenn Bargain discuss the opportunities that social media provides to activist movements.
What kind of opportunities do social
media provide to activist movements? In their blog posts, students Niklas
Endres, Nolwenn Bargain, Salome Schmid, Bénédicte Daguet, and Marie Alardot explore
different social media activism movements, such as #MeToo, #FridaysForFuture,
and #16daysactivism. The
blog posts have been produced as a part of the course “Social
Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
Millaisia
mahdollisuuksia sosiaalinen media tarjoaa aktivistiliikkeille?
Blogikirjoituksissaan opiskelijat Niklas Endres, Nolwenn Bargain, Salome
Schmid, Bénédicte Daguet ja Marie Alardot tarkastelevat erilaisia sosiaalisen
median siivittämiä aktivistiliikkeitä, kuten #MeToo, #FridaysForFuture ja
#16daysactivism. Kirjoitukset on tehty osana Turun yliopiston Social Media,
Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States –kurssia.
This blog post was produced as part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
“I don´t believe it” (BBC News, 2018). This
is how the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump, commented
on the results of a climate change report in 2018. What may sound like a joke
at first is sadly dead serious. One of the most powerful men in the world does
not believe in one of the biggest issues of our time.
The U.S. is already experiencing impacts of climate change, such as sea level rise, ongoing droughts, and an increasing amount of natural disasters. After China, the U.S. has the second highest amount of natural disasters (cf. Statista, 2016). Although President Obama already introduced the “Clean Power Plan,” which is a political strategy to fight the extent of climate change (cf. climatenexus, 2019), current U.S. President Donald Trump denies any proof for climate change developments in the last years.
“Fridays for Future,” climate marches, and
increasing attention towards our climate and environmental protection take this
discussion to a whole new level. People are protesting against the
narrow-minded views of the President, they do not stay at home and wait for our
planet to finally get destroyed. Instead, they fight for their opinions and for
our world.
Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate
activist who called the Fridays for Future movement into being (and of whom most
of you should already have heard of), was absurdly mocked by Donald Trump via
Twitter after her passionate speech at the UN Climate Action Summit in
September 2019 (cf. Der Tagesspiegel, 2019). After Thunberg criticized world
leaders for not engaging enough in government actions concerning environmental
protection, the President of the United States decided to react by sneering “She seems like a very happy young
girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future. So nice to see.“
(Twitter, 2019).
After reading this text, one might ask how someone so narrow-minded can still be in one of the highest governmental positions on our planet, and how can we make the U.S. President finally change his mind and accept the consequences of undeniable facts? I think the only way to answer those questions is to show support and fight for our future. Even President Trump needs to keep his electors in mind when making decisions, and if he sees that people are not satisfied with his politics, he must re-think his actions. It seems like in the end, we are responsible for our own future and we have the power to make changes in this world.
This blog post was produced as part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
Nowadays, social media are central in everyday life and
widely used in society. I suspect everyone knows what social media are, but I
am going to define them as websites or applications that enable users to create
and share content or to participate in social networking.
Social Media and the Creation of Activist Movements
Social media are platforms for self-expression, and social activists use the internet to put pressure on powerful organizations and societies. I am sure that you have heard about movements such as Me Too, Times Up, Black Lives Matter, and Never Again, but do you know what they have in common? All of them gained influence through social media, particularly on Twitter. Social media allow minorities, who are often underrepresented, to have a voice. In addition to being avenues for expression, social media facilitate access to information and connect activists with each other. This is the case with Black Lives Matter, for example.
Image: Johnny Silvercloud/Wikimedia Commons
Black Lives Matter is a movement that has mobilized to fight violence and systemic racism against African Americans. It started out as just a hashtag (#BlackLivesMatter) that allowed people to express their indignation on social networks. Then they began organizing demonstrations and gathering together to denounce police brutality and racism in the police force. In this case, online activism allows people to organize events such as protest marches. They have their own website, Home – Black Lives Matter, where it is possible to join the movement.
Superficial Engagement in Social Media
Image: Eric Allie/Cagle Cartoons
Nevertheless,
I would like to raise a point that we do not often think about. Using social
media is clearly a way to create activist movements and feel involved in them,
but is it not simply creating an “impression” of activism? Many people only
share a message on an online platform or like a post, and some have the feeling
of “being part of the movement.” This kind of support can be called disengaged
activism. This is the case when people support a cause by taking simple
measures, but are not necessarily engaged, not going to the demonstrations. This
is a point that can be criticized.
The Importance of Social Links in Activism
We often hear about the positive effects of social media on activism. Journalist Malcolm Gladwell thinks that activism on social media is not real activism. According to him, “strong” relationships are necessary for any serious activist project, and social media often rely on “weak” relationships, people you do not know. For him, it is not enough. He defines Twitter as follows: “The platforms of social media are built around weak ties. Twitter is a way of following (or being followed by) people you may never have met.”
His point of view can be criticized. I agree that strong ties are crucial to creating a movement, but we must not forget that all strong links begin with weak links, and social media are a way to build strong social ties and generate shared goals.
This blog post was produced as part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
On the example of the #metoo movement, the opportunities social media provides, and whether it’s capable of shaping and changing political reality in the United States
“Tell your story.
Shout it. Write it.
Whisper it if you have to.
But tell it.
Some won’t understand it.
Some will outright reject it.
But many will
thank you for it.
And then the most
magical thing will happen.
One by one, voices will start
whispering, ‘Me, too.’
And your tribe will gather.
And you will never
feel alone again.”
― L.R. Knost
The current U.S. President has said: “grab [women] by the pussy… you can do anything.” An Associate Justice of the Supreme Court has been accused of the sexual assault of several women. More than 250 powerful people in the U.S., from celebrities to CEOs and senators, have been publicly accused of sexual misconduct. With the amount of sexual violence, harassment, and discrimination happening every day at work, school, or at home, tabooing the topic of sexual abuse won’t bring us anywhere.
To structurally change something in our society — on the state level, as well as in our individual way of thinking — it is necessary to talk about it. In 2017, the hashtag #metoo was introduced in the United States, expanding worldwide, to give victims of sexual assault a frame to talk about their experiences. Since mid-October 2017, when the New York Times and New Yorker published allegations of film producer Harvey Weinstein having sexually assaulted several women throughout the years, the hashtag has been used millions of times.
Giving victims
of sexual violence a voice and an equal chance of being heard, social media
provided an ideal public sphere for the movement, since it’s not dominated by a
certain race or gender and is accessible to everyone. The vast scope and the
dimensions of the #metoo movement, with the use of the hashtag averaging 55,319
times a day in at least 85 countries, is undeniable. Nevertheless, social media
activism is often criticized for having only little impact on actual
policymaking. However, in the United States, the movement is expected to
influence the 2020 elections, as it has caused a shift in the way Americans
think and made them question who is in power. This has also been triggered by
recent debates on abortion and women’s control over their bodies. Through the
support and solidarity of the movement, many women have found the courage to
speak out, which led, for example, to the resignation of nine members of
Congress.
Even though the #metoo
movement has a feminist background and the victims are often women, everyone
regardless of gender, background, or ethnicity can be a victim of sexual
assault.
Sources:
Mendes, K., Ringrose, J., & Keller, J. (2018). #MeToo and the
promise and pitfalls of challenging rape culture through digital feminist
activism. European Journal of Women’s Studies, 25(2), 236–246. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350506818765318
This blog post was produced as part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
Violence against women, let me
explain:
“If he hits you, we believe you.” This slogan
has been used in many demonstrations in different countries to fight against violence
on women.
But what are we talking about?
What does the
word ‘violence’ entail? It means sexual, physical, and mental abuse, human
trafficking, forced marriage, and female mutilation.
Where does this happen?
Everywhere. At
home, in the streets, at work, within religious communities, or as a part of
cultural traditions.
And we could ask ourselves why?
Because of gender inequality, which is a persisting issue worldwide. Each minute, 20 people are domestically abused in the United States. The World Health Organization has assessed that 35 per cent of women in the world are killed by femicide, the intentional murder of a woman because of her gender.
Breaking the Silence: The 16 Days of Activism Campaign
The number of victims is not decreasing and that is for one significant reason: silence. The very aim of the 16 Days of Activism campaign is to put to an end to the taboo on gender-based violence. It is a global movement dedicated to demonstrating solidarity between women, raising awareness on the issue, and creating tools to pressure governments to work towards gender equality. It is often forgotten that abusing a woman is a violation of human rights. Each year between November 25th and December 10th, women around the world gather to honor the victims and shed light on the issue.
How to Raise Awareness?
The answer to this question is simple: social media. Social media are part of our daily routines and the platforms enable people to communicate and raise awareness on important issues. Twitter and Instagram are particularly important for the 16 Days of Activism movement because they have helped the organizers reach a wider audience. For instance, the non-profit organization UN Women is sharing their message every day through videos or images that are viewed by thousands of people. Moreover, social media empower the creation of communities and help women to deliver their stories and experiences, which is important for breaking the silence. Social media give a non-distorted voice to the activists in the 16 Days of Activism campaign, especially in places around the world where women are often silenced. The campaign uses a variety of hashtags, such as #genderequality, #16daysactivism, #orangetheworld, #endtheviolence, and plenty of others, making it easy to find various types of content. This strategy demonstrates the significant impact that activism can have through social media, in the effort to influence society and combat violence against women. Indeed, 16 days are not enough to protect women around the world from violence, but social media and activism, hand in hand, can make a difference.
This blog post was produced as part of the course “Social Media,
Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
Protests have been around for a long time, but with the arrival of social media, activism has changed. How can social media support activism? How has social media changed activism? Has the impact been positive or negative?
Positive Aspects
In my
opinion, social media can support activism in a positive way. Thanks to social
media, activist groups can reach a worldwide audience in an easy, cheap, and
fast way. Online digital platforms make it easier to persuade and influence others.
Social media connects people and gathers them together.
In her article, “Media Literacy: The 5 Key Concepts,” Stacey Goodman said: “We are no longer just consumers of media, but content creators and distributors, as well as editors, opinion makers, and journalists.” I agree with her. Social media gives a voice to everyone, including minorities. It is a tool that is easily accessible.
Moreover, social media enables movements to grow and reinforce themselves. For example, after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, students organized a demonstration called “March for Our Lives” and, thanks to Twitter, the movement spread widely.
Another example is the #MeToo movement which, again through Twitter,
has had a significant worldwide impact. It also helped spark another movement: #balancetonporc, the French version of #MeToo.
Social media can also allow
latent movements to reappear very easily. The press is no longer the only one
who decides what is important. This way, people can control the information.
Negative Aspects
There can be downsides to social media as well. Let’s look at the concepts of backlash and slacktivism, for instance:
A backlash is a strong negative reaction to an action or development. For example, in the BalanceTonPorc case, Sandra Muller – the journalist who started France’s equivalent of the #MeToo campaign – took to Twitter to speak out against a man she said had harassed her. The man then sued her for defamation, and in the end, Muller was condemned to pay 15,000 euros of compensations. I find it aberrant, but unfortunately, this is what happened.
The term “slacktivism” refers
to a soft, weak form of activism created by and present on social media. People
share a message on an online platform or “like” a post, and feel
proud of themselves. But actually, in my opinion, they could be considered as
lazy activists. Social media helps to engage more people but the level of
commitment can be lower compared to traditional activism. In this case, social
media has a negative impact by increasing disengaged activism.
Lastly, there is not much
regulation on social media platforms, and sometimes activist groups can lose
control because of disrespectful words or images. However, Twitter has established rules to
encourage proper conversation. In my point of view, social
media needs to be much more regulated because we can come across shocking and
harmful content, which can damage the original cause.
In conclusion, using social media as a platform for activism can have positive and negative outcomes. In my view, social media helps activism. It allows movements to reach a bigger audience faster and cheaper. It enables activist groups to become more influential and have more impact. And most importantly, they give everyone the opportunity to be heard. But we must be careful with our words.
#BlackLivesMatter -liikettä käsittelevä podcast on tehty osana Turun yliopiston ”Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” -kurssia. Podcastissa opiskelijat Kyle Wong Ka Wah, Eric Leung Cheuk Yin, Salome Schmid, Jaakko Dickman ja Hanna Nieminen tarkastelevat liikkeen historiaa ja sosiaalisen median merkitystä.
This podcast has been produced as a part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku. In the podcast, students Kyle Wong Ka Wah, Eric Leung Cheuk Yin, Salome Schmid, Jaakko Dickman, and Hanna Nieminen explore the historical background and the significance of social media to the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
What is the role of social media platforms in today’s society? In their blog posts, students Johanna Norrbacka, Wong Ka Wah, Marta Rodríguez Garcia, Yuxin Liu, and Marie Burguin reflect on the addictive nature of social media and the intergenerational differences in the attitudes towards them. The blog posts have been produced as a part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
Millainen rooli sosiaalisen median alustoilla on tämän päivän yhteiskunnassa? Blogikirjoituksissaan opiskelijat Johanna Norrbacka, Wong Ka Wah, Marta Rodríguez Garcia, Yuxin Liu ja Marie Burguin pohtivat muun muassa sosiaalisen median riippuvuutta aiheuttavaa luonnetta sekä nuorempien ja vanhempien sukupolvien asenne-eroja sosiaalisen median sisältöihin. Blogikirjoitukset on tehty osana Turun yliopiston Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States –kurssia.
This blog post was produced as part of the course “Social Media, Ideologies, and Ethics in the United States” at the University of Turku.
Photo: Johanna Norrbacka
I have not been active in social media since I deactivated
my Facebook account at the end of 2016 or the beginning of 2017. The reason for
my departure was that I very strongly felt Facebook was banking the profits of
a media corporation without any regard for journalistic ethics – which I
strongly felt, and feel, they should have taken into account in their
operation.
Throughout the course of the lectures, both the reasons
for staying out of social media and the impetus for returning were present, and
I began to contemplate what would be the kind of social media platform that I
would feel comfortable using. For the purpose of this blog I will henceforth
refer to this imaginary entity as “Village.”
There would be no political advertisements from
political parties or candidates on Village. I do not believe that someone who
is running for office, on any level of the spectrum from local to national
politics, can express their agenda or knowledge adequately and conclusively in a
span of a few seconds or minutes. I believe the voter benefits from and has the
responsibility to make an effort to familiarize themselves with the potential
receivers of their vote, and there are plenty of channels for that without a social
media platform selling its ethics for advertisement money.
Instead of advertisements aspiring to convince voters
to vote for a certain candidate, there would be advertisements and public
service announcements about voting and its role in democracy. I think it’s about
time to make taking part in society compelling and even – I am writing about a
utopia after all – chic.
Algorithms would be used as a force for good, harnessed
for something benevolent and not merely for something commercially beneficial. People
would be provided with positive news, accurate information about those whose
opinions may not totally coincide with theirs, and stories about people from
different backgrounds as a means for spreading compassion.
No trackers would be placed on other websites to
survey what the users are doing, seeing, or watching online. Nor would any data
be collected about their browsing histories because for no reason and for no
price would Village users be sold out by Village. Neither would the photographs
or personal information of its users be used for monetary gain.
Currently, I am not aware of any social media company
that functions according to principles that would convince me to return to
social media, but I am putting my hope in the future. I look forward to seeing ever-developing
technology and the demand for more options in connecting and communicating with
others bring alternatives and competition to the present duopoly.
