Social Media in Society

      Social media has become an essential part of our society as Americans. Since the days of MySpace social media has become something that everyone participates from seniors to children. This form of media is meant to connect people on the internet through pictures, words, and video. Many use these site to connect with friends they would not normally see on a regular basis some use it to promote themselves or a business. While there are many ways for a person to use social media there have been many instances where the public uses social media for activism.
        What does online activism look like? Well, it can take on many forms, but what I would like to focus on this week is hashtags and their purpose. A hashtag is a label that make it easier for social media users to seek out messages that have a certain theme or topic. For instance, the hashtag #MayPac will connect the user with anything that that hashtag was used on, in this instance a boxing match.
     However, hashtags in recent years have been used to start a public dialogue on certain issues and debates, such as the hashtags #blacklivesmatter or #baltimoreuprising. These hashtags are used to give the people a voice in the controversies surrounding Ferguson, MO and Baltimore, MD. These hashtags have had a tremendous presence on social media producing an activist community in social media. The people that use this hashtag are usually commenting on the current racial issues African-Americans seem to be having with law enforcement. The fact that we are even talking about these trends on social media means they have worked to some degree. We all know nothing can be changed in our physical world through social media. However, it can spark public thought on an issue and be a catalyst for change.