Social media, once viewed only as a tool for socialising, has transformed into a powerful space for raising awareness and inspiring change. From climate change to human rights advocacy, today's youth are leveraging the vast reach of platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok to amplify their voices and mobilise communities like never before.
A study published by the Pew Research Centre states that “YouTube and Facebook are the most-widely used online platforms.” It further shows the stats that about 93% of individuals between ages 18-29 in US use YouTube. There has been a rise in older population using social media platforms as well. However, young people use social media platforms more than any other age group. According to an article published by University at Albany, “Younger people tend not to have as much excess resources or time as older people do, which might bar them from traditional forms of activism, but online activism gives them the opportunity to participate despite these limitations.”
A striking example of digital activism in action is the global youth-led climate movement initiated by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenage activist, who ignited a firestorm of environmental consciousness through her viral Twitter posts and speeches. With a single tweet, she galvanised millions of people across the globe to participate in climate strikes and demand urgent action from world leaders. The hashtag #FridaysForFuture, which originated from her movement, has been trending consistently worldwide, uniting young activists across borders in a collective call for climate justice.
Another remarkable example the #BlackLivesMatter movement, which gained major momentum after the tragic death of George Floyd. It originally began as a hashtag on Twitter in 2013 and then swiftly evolved into a global reckoning against racial injustice. Activists took to various social media platforms to educate, organise protests and demand systemic reforms.
However, critics argue that the ease of engagement on social media often leads to superficial activism, where individuals merely participate in trending causes without any deep commitment and shout into the void. Additionally, concerns about algorithmic biases persist, with platforms accused of silencing non-conforming voices or amplifying divisive content merely for profit.
Despite the challenges and criticisms, one thing remains clear: Digital Activism has only just begun yet and there’s more to come in the upcoming years.