How social media impacts the #FreeBritney movement and more
Like anything else, social media has its pros and cons. But, when it comes to spreading the word and reaching a wide audience, social media is a powerful tool.
According to a study conducted by the University of Toronto, users more often take to social media in support of various topics and movements rather than in opposition. The study also found that Twitter users retweeted posts using supportive language at an average of 624 times in comparison to the average of 24 times when the tweet contained negative or opposing language. Social media consistently proves itself to be a pivotal tool in amplifying movements and messages across the nation. Below are some of the more well-known movements that have been impacted by social media.
#FreeBritney Movement
Beginning in April 2019, pop icon Britney Spears started posting erratic messages on social media, leading fans to believe that something was off with her. Soon after, fans began to attribute her abrupt, unsteady behavior to her conservatorship with her father, Jamie Spears. The conservatorship states that the star cannot get married, drive a car, or spend her own money without permission from her father.
As a 38-year-old woman worth an estimated $59 million dollars, Britney has essentially zero control over her own life. Because of this, over 134,000 concerned fans started a petition that asked for change and requested that the conservatorship end. It didn’t take long for the movement to spread like wildfire with celebrities posting #FreeBritney to their personal accounts and users all over the world tweeting and reposting the hashtag. These users decided to Use Their Mic for Good and create meaningful change. Now, Spears has a new lawyer and has officially filed to remove her father from the conservatorship.
#MeToo Movement
#MeToo are the powerful words behind those who have survived sexual harassment and violence. Though Tarana Burke first used the term #MeToo in 2006, it recently gained relevance again across social media platforms as sexual violence cases emerged in the entertainment industry and beyond.
In 2017, actress Alyssa Milano reignited the hashtag tweeting the words “If you’ve been sexually harassed or assaulted write ‘me too’ as a reply to this tweet.” With nearly 4 million followers, Milano’s tweet sparked a movement that increased awareness of sexual assault and brought survivors together. Since the beginning of the movement, states such as New York, California, and Illinois have implemented mandatory sexual harassment training in the workplace.
#BlackLivesMatter Movement
#BlackLivesMatter is a hashtag shared by various users and celebrities using their platform to create change. Most recently, #BlackLivesMatter evolved from a hashtag to an activist movement. Beginning in 2013 after the tragic death of Trayvon Martin, the hashtag inspired an ongoing conversation about racial inequality and police brutality.
Fast forward to 2021, and what started as just another hashtag has transformed into a call for policy changes. Through the influence of social media, Black Lives Matter is now an organization that is changing and shaping America’s view on race today. The multi-chapter organization spreads across the country with nearly 40 chapters nationwide.
Social media played a key role in each of these movements and so many others. Users across various platforms worked to raise awareness, create sustainable movements, and ignite change. Without social media, would you have known about any of these movements? Would any of them have made a difference?
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The Social Institute partners with schools nationwide to empower students, families, and educators to positively navigate social-emotional health, social media, and technology. Schools access our student-respected, turnkey curriculum through WinAtSocial.com, an interactive, gamified learning platform. With solutions for students, parents, and educators, we offer a systemic and comprehensive SEL program through a unique and positive approach. We are proud to serve public and independent partners such as Ravenscroft School, Woodward Academy, Oldfields School, All Saints Episcopal School, Lake Forest School District, Boston Public Schools, and more. For more information on how to empower your students to make high-character decisions online and off, please contact us.