Digging deep to bring meaning to your social engagement

Social media plays a significant role in our lives. Not only does it keep people in touch over long distances, but it brings individuals together in ways not possible before. All across the globe, people have flocked to social media to raise awareness about social justice issues to affect real change.?

A tool people utilize on social media is hashtags and their ability to grow a conversation into a global movement. Simply searching a hashtag will bring a user to all the posts that have used it, making them a go-to tool to raise awareness while increasing engagement and gaining advocacy momentum.?

The “me too” movement was founded in 2006 by Tarana Burke to bring resources, support and pathways to healing for those whose lives had been forever changed by sexual violence and abuse. In 2017, the #metoo movement exploded when actor Alyssa Milano urged victims of sexual abuse to tell their stories. That hashtag was used over 19 million times over the next year by many who were speaking out about their own experiences. The use of the hashtag over 10 years later changed a grassroots effort into a global movement.?

More recently, the world learned about Iran’s “morality police'' after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman, was detained for wearing her hijab (headscarf) “inappropriately.” Amini died after three days in police custody; her family and local media reporting she was severely beaten. Protests erupted throughout Iran and advocates spoke out on their Instagram and TikToks about women’s rights and freedoms. The hashtag #mahsaamini was tweeted and retweeted more than 250 million times in Persian and another 50 million in English within the month following her death.

Social advocacy is hard to ignore. That’s why consumers, social followers and employees pay attention to organizations that observe social activism and actively take a stand. Simply posting a black square or adding a rainbow filter to a profile picture isn’t enough – the action can come across as opportunistic, lazy and performative. Something many have coined as“slacktivisim.”

When determining your social content and whether to participate and take a stand, consider, is what I’m posting reflective of my personal values and the values and culture of my organization? Can I educate myself and others about the issue??

Here are four ways to meaningfully contribute to the conversation and be a leader rather than hopping on the bandwagon:

Research and find activities, events or gatherings happening that you support and feel others should know about. Is there a gathering to mark Black History Month? Maybe a fundraiser is happening for a local women’s shelter on March 8 (International Women’s Day). Tell people how they can get out and get involved.

Provide opportunities for your followers to learn more and share how you can learn more, too. Books are a good suggestion, as are seminars and other meetings. Search your local library website or university archives for resources to learn more about the topic you’re supporting.

Show your actions. Share how your team members and your organization are advocating for the cause. This can look like volunteering at the local food bank or shelter, donating funds to a non-profit organization supporting the cause or even sharing video clips of how your team is learning more and educating themselves.?

As an individual or an organization, think of ways to do your part to make that happen. After our workshop with @ambitgender, we discussed several ways we can show our support and make organizational changes to be more welcoming and inclusive.

It’s important to show our support for social justice issues online, but it should be done in a meaningful and purposeful way. The next time you post about International Women’s Day, Aboriginal People’s Day or Pride Week, think beyond the hashtag - what action can you take?