How does social media engage communication?
Social media is a powerful tool of communication, as individual users can become influential voices of community and dissent across the globe. Despite the importance of digital identity and building one’s PLN, there remains an inherent anonymity of the internet and particularly social media. Communication is no longer necessitated by face to face conversation; allowing a sense of freedom of expression to flourish. Of course, this freedom and perceived anonymity has both negative and positive consequences, but I will focus on the positive. When individuals utilize social media to create conversation, it has the immense power of reaching millions of people instantly. For example, the MeToo movement that took centre stage on social media throughout 2017 demonstrated how social media can engage public communications. This global movement was created on the basis of open and free conversation from and for survivors of sexual abuse; a topic that is often hidden in public. The use of social media allowed millions of survivors to come forward, empowering truth and justice. This movement, and many others, effectively utilize social media as an integral space to engage global communication. This relates to the article by Clark & Auferdheide where the relationship between content and coordination was discussed. The MeToo movement reflects the power of high-quality, engaging content and the global coordination of the public communication system. With the numerous high-profile allegations that arose, the content effectively engaged the general public rapidly. With such content came the coordination of newspapers, talk shows, campaigns, and criminal cases. Within a single year, multiple prolific criminal trials were held, articles were released, names were blacklisted and defamed. Thus, the content and coordination of such content enabled the movement to further facilitate global communication.
How does social media challenge communication?
To build upon the previous paragraph, such effective communication comes with challenges. As mentioned, the origination of the MeToo movement came from a non-profit organization founded by African-American activist, Tarana Burke in 2006. Despite her use of social media to promote the same message, it was not until celebrities began using it that it gained power and influence. Now, American actress Alyssa Milano is credited for this movement, rather than Tarana Burke. This demonstrates that the use of social media to facilitate communication relies, not on the message itself, but the person posting it. Social media itself reflects systemic barriers to communication found in reality; two of which are race and class. The challenge comes in who is afforded the power of communicating to the public and who the public will listen to.
Is it inclusive?
With billions of people utilizing social media for communication, it must be viewed as inclusive. However, the definition of inclusivity in poorly defined and dependent upon how one interacts with social media. For example, on TikTok one can find communities of people of colour amplifying their experiences, facilitating anti-racist communication and diverse perspectives. You can also find communities of white supremacists, anti-LGBTQ+, criminals and many more. So, the short answer is yes, social media is inclusive of all viewpoints and values, but this also provides these individuals a platform on which they can converse. This is again where the double-edged sword of social media comes in; where the same platform can both amplify anti-racist and racist rhetoric.
Does your PLN amplify the views of others?
To extend the previous paragraph, the definition of inclusivity and amplification of diverse voices is a bi-direction relationship between the user and the platform. I personally value the presence of diverse perspectives, conversations around climate change, the promotion of BIPOC experiences, social justice movements, and the opportunity to reflect upon my privilege. Thus, my PLNs and social media feeds reflect this to create a network that represents these values. In this way, I am blind to the other sides of social media where these values are absent, just as I designed to be so.
The context of employer social media communication expectations.
To bring this discussion back to the politics of social media communication, the MeToo movement also showcased the effects of social media use within employment. In 2017, thousands of allegations from survivors became public knowledge. A vast majority of these allegations were against powerful men; CEOs, coaches, reporters, producers, and presidents. Many of those men faced the consequences, most often the loss of their job and status. Though these are minor repercussions in the face of the harm done, it does reflect the ways in which social media has become influential within the workplace and politics. Today, those same men whose names have been blacklisted on a public platform will carry that with them to future job opportunities. With the volatile and powerful nature of social media to tarnish reputations, whether deserved or not, employers now must consider employee’s presence online as an asset or issue. Within this one example, the survivors who have shared their stories are celebrated as strong individuals prepared to amplify the voices of others in a just cause. This kind of presence and use of communication is valued by most employers, whereas the abusers are seen as liabilities. It is clear that social media is by far the most powerful method of global communication, and it has consequences that extend into work, politics, and life.
References:
Media & Social Justice CHAPTER 4 A New Vision for Public Media Open, Dynamic, and Participatory Jessica Clark and Patricia Aufderheide http://ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/login?url=http://www.palgraveconnect.com/doifinder/10.1057/9780230119796
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