In recent years, the digital landscape has transformed the way we communicate, share information, and engage with social issues. One of the most significant changes from the 1940s when the main communication tool was newspaper and/or radio is the speed at which information spreads. A tweet or a post can go viral within hours, spreading the message of injustice or broadcasting the latest information on events, attacks and even testimonies of the affected. So, has the accessibility of the information and ability to see the videos/photographs from the events seconds after they happen change how we respond to social injustice?
“If Holocaust happened now, I would protest”
Looking back at the horrendous nazi policies and Holocaust, a lot of us, especially the ones living in Europe would say “oh, but if it was happening today, I’d be protesting and standing up for Jews”. Among other reasons why this is the case is the accessibility of information through social media or news outlets. Back then, if these events would make it to the news – it would be not on the front of the paper and definitely did not have explicit images from the camps that we are able to see now in the museums. For example, an article published on Daily Telegraph in 1942 reported that “an average 1,000 Jews were gassed daily”; “The total number slaughtered in this district and around Lithuanian Kovno is 300,000” got not much traction. These are numbers and events that should lead to action, right? However, as we know, people did not feel like going against their governments at the time. We tell ourselves that now we for sure would go against them and would stand up for what is right. We would see the images from the camps on our Instagram feeds and proceed to storm the government buildings and facilities. But, really, would we?
Well, let me tell you that now is exactly the time to storm government buildings and overthrow the regimes – multiple genocides, ecocides, femicides and all other kinds -cides are happening around the world. Yet, we seem very comfortable sitting in our homes watching the genocides unfold on our screen.
Digital Activism
Social media is our greatest tool for basically everything. Just so it happens it has become a tool to advocate for sociopolitical change too. We have hashtags, campaigns, online petitions or even virtual protests happening on social media. So, we sit in our homes, post black square with #BlackLivesMatter, reshare a story and feel like we’ve done everything we can. All of this seems more like feeding your ego to me. This digital activism is a lot of the times very superficial and is mere “well, I did something so now I’m good” and most of the times does not follow-through on the issues and does not even support the people doing stuff outside of the digital space.
Although, do not get me wrong, sometimes it is quite effective and definitely should be used on the side. Through social media we can educate each other and raise funds for the people in need. For example, a content creator Shaky (@atute_insp on TikTok is hosting a Talent Show which helps to elevate the content, reach more people and gather funds for others in need).
Additionally, during the genocide in Gaza and recent attacks on Lebanon from israel, people have been using their accounts to spread the message where they can donate.
Still, what is important to note here is that raising funds and/or sharing the information only tries to treat the symptoms of the regimes which are committing genocides, systematically targeting people of colour (police tactics), etc. So, social media is important to have on the side and it can be utilized in the greatest ways, but it should never be the only thing that we are doing in order to change said systems of oppression, apartheid and imperialism.
From Screens to Streets
I open my Instagram and immediately see the images/videos from recent bombings in Gaza and Lebanon. I see kids with cut off limbs, bodies hanging from the destroyed buildings, people screaming for help while buried in the rubble. I see how israeli soldiers take hostages from hospitals, strip them naked and torture them. I consume this content daily, a lot of us do. We share someone’s pain, someone’s tragedy, death on stories. And what do most of us do after that? We continue our daily lives – we go to university, work, and hang out with friends. And partly that makes sense – we are so wrapped up and indoctrinated in the system we live in that a lot of the times we are not even able (or think we are not able) to get out of it, more so stop and change it.
Nonetheless, it is very egoistic to continue our lives. How can we look at all of the images and just go on? Like nothing is happening? It is so unfair that we get to share a story and feel like we contributed enough while our governments are sending billions of dollars and weapons to, in this case, israel. Our taxes go to the weapons that kill Palestinians, Syrians, Lebanese and Congolese people. Couple posts or stories are not gonna change that. It just enables and normalizes the genocides. It enables and normalizes our governments funding them.
When I go to the protests, there are so few people that I am able to recognize their faces. And if the protests/actions have more risks (like arrest) the crowd is even smaller. I wish that everyone who saw the images from Gaza, Lebanon, Congo, Sudan and thought “this is horrific” would go to the streets. I wish that everyone who said “if Holocaust happened now, I’d protest” would go to the streets. I want to see not just your posts or shocked faces, I want to see you taking action. Reclaiming our streets. Organizing together. For every human being on this earth.
Yes, I agree with you. I think social platforms on one side bring our attention to the injustices that are happening on the other side of the world. But on the other side, digital activism fuels our arrogance, as if it only takes a few seconds of retweeting to help bring justice to the world. But anyway, I agree with you that there are positives to the internet movement, only that people should at the same time take real action instead of sitting at home and simply posting an Instagram or a tweet.
About the superficial nature of digital activism, it seems like most people participating do not even bother to research why certain things are being done. It’s like they think they have to do it because if they don’t they’ll be labeled as a bad person. In that same vein, I recently saw someone on TikTok talk about how boycotting without knowing why is stupid. The aim of a boycott is to pressure a company into doing something, so if you don’t know why you’re boycotting how will you know when the goal has been achieved?
Like you said, the internet can be used for good, but especially with the amount of misinformation out there you’d think people would do their research before getting involved. If not, it’s just a performance.
I think the irony of the internet is that despite us having access to more information, we choose not to change our opinions. In your example, you talk about people claiming they would have protested in World War Two, a claim I also get very sick of. Right now, we have the information about the genocide happening in Gaza, but, reinforced by current power structures, we choose to “not see” the severity of it. Social media is full of propaganda dehumanizing minorities, similar to older forms of dehumanization propaganda. Viewed through this angle, it’s unfortunate to see that there are many similarities with the past.
On the other hand, there seems to be more criticism concerning the policies of Israel than before the Internet Age, so the Information Age seemingly does cause changes in our viewpoints. I hope digital activism can eventually translate to the elimination of unjust power structures.