#MeToo & #NeverAgain: the Power of Social Media

Social media used to be just a place where you could see what your friends were eating for lunch or play farming games, but since has evolved into a powerful platform for social movements. Many people who use social media have seen the recent #MeToo movement, as well as the #NeverAgain movement.

The #MeToo movement encouraged many women to share their stories of gender and sexual abuse. This movement was powerful as it showed many people just how common sexual violence is, and how deeply it has influenced the people in their lives. Learn more about the timeline of the #MeToo here. For many, sharing their stories on social media was empowering, and the number of responses allowed them to reclaim their voices and use them to make a difference by starting conversations about sexual assault.  History may look back at the #MeToo movement and reflect on how it leads to a culture shift where men are held responsible for the mistreatment of women.

After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High Schoolteens that killed 17, students  who attended the school used social media to speak out about their trauma, creating the #NeverAgain movement. Various activists emerged from the school emerged such as Cameron Kasky and Emma Gonzalez. These teenagers have gained so much momentum on social media that influential government members such as Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch spoke with the children on their opinions on gun control at a CNN town hall. Social media has been a powerful platform for these students to be listened to be their nation. Additionally, other survivors of school shootings have formed connections with the Parkland students on social media, gaining further support online.

The way that we interact with social media has changed a lot over the years and has supported several social movements such as the #MeToo movement, as well as the #NeverAgain movement. Social media is a powerful tool that is on the front line of recent social movements and will continue to influence society in the future. Have you participated in any of these social media movements? Let me know in the comments!