The Impact of Social Media on Social Activism

Abstract

The emerge of social media like Twitter takes the traditional storytelling to a new level. The existence of it impacts greatly on various social movements, including Black Lives Matter. It changes how the movement is created, distributed and discussed. This research, through methods of specific case studies and secondary data research, focuses on these changes by specifically studying the case of how Twitter's distinctive features, functions and algorithms are involved in Black Lives Matter. The result of the study indicates that Twitter's features and algorithms changed the way media and individual users behave. It impacts on characteristics of the news being distributed, enlarges mass discussion of these information, and gives more chances for individuals to speak out. Accordingly, all of these aspects significantly stimulated, strengthened and sped up the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement.