Over the years, movements have pushed politicians and world leaders to listen to the masses via social media, which can aid in bringing people together to organize boycotts, strikes and protests. When we asked our friends and classmates about the war and where they were getting most of their information, they all said social media. However, it’s important to note that filling your feeds with videos and information on the topic without fact-checking can cause you to only view distorted news and propaganda.
Uncovering factual information on social media is generally difficult because so many creators and influencers have such a strong following, that you never know what could be true or false with the way social media is structured. On Instagram, people tend to repost everything their friends post or skip over any news-related posts. According to a survey of U.S adults done by Pew Research, eight-in-ten adults say that social media platforms are very or somewhat effective in creating public awareness of political and social issues. Next time you are on any social media don’t just look at a post about Gaza and repost it or ignore it, do your due diligence by deep-diving into the topic and looking up fact-checked sources. There are many well-known trustworthy sources and reporters posting live from Gaza. Supporting these creators and their posts helps boost awareness of how tragic this war is and inspires more people to push for change.
During times of tragedy, it is important to get involved no matter how big or small. It is our job to keep the conversation going and stay updated for the sake of the thousands of lives being lost. Your voice means the world to the innocent people who don’t have the power to create change in their lives. Taking the time to research the current political climate and forming opinions is beneficial to our society as a whole and fosters more effective conversations and growth.
