(Photo by Brahim Guedich via Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED)
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In light of the genocide occurring against the Palestinian people in Gaza — I am overcome with a pervasive feeling of powerlessness living in the West. These sentiments have resonated with many of my peers, who feel disconnected by the vast geographical distance between us and the Middle East. However, in an era of interconnectedness, social media has emerged as a powerful technology for us to voice our opinions and demonstrate solidarity across borders. Indeed, the past several weeks have shown me the power of social media activism in organizing on-the-ground protests, sharing educational information, and mobilizing people to take political action.
Defining Allyship and Solidarity
Dr. Loretta Pyles recognizes how challenging it can be to believe in social change when “social justice seems out of reach.” Thankfully, the internet has become a new channel where people have turned to engage in community organizing, through which they bring disenfranchised people on their behalf to challenge power structures — like political leaders and laws — and drive change. A central element of this involves civic activism and allyship; the former involves citizens in policy decisions and aims to hold public institutions accountable for their actions. Allyship is the process, not self-proclaimed identity, of demonstrating solidarity by continuously self-educating, “unlearning and reevaluating” internal biases, and listening.
Social Mobilization on the Ground
While the surge of violence in Palestine has prompted local activists to take a stance in recent weeks, Palestinians have been long-standingly engaged in social media activism to demonstrate resistance. According to a few scholars, the rapid adoption of internet blogs and online technology in the early 2000s broadened the space for citizen journalists to challenge dominant media narratives in the Middle East and introduce new voices. Specifically, Palestinian activists used social media to share “testimonial videos,” which offered the world a real-time look into the routine violence and brutal occupation occurring in their communities. The authenticity captured by these videos was a common strategy used in response to military offences such as Operation Cast Lead on the Gaza Strip.
Dr. Mahmood Monshipouri and Theodore Prompichai draw attention to the association between social media and real-life resistance. The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement (BDS) is one key example. BDS has the goal of putting pressure on leaders to recognize equality for the Palestinian people and the 7.3 million refugees. This international campaign gained support over the internet and has since reached the circles of governments, political parties, and universities. Further, social media has caught the attention of artists such as Mohammad Assaf, who created a music video, Dami Falasteeni (My Blood is Palestinean), which received over four million views.
In my experience, I have seen TikTok and Instagram being used to amplify “political engagement” and “lower the barriers to entry into activism.” One of the videos on my page showcased thousands of protesters who gathered in front of the White House, calling for the United States government to support a ceasefire in Gaza. Another TikTok showcased a compilation of protests in support of Palestine occurring across the globe. Other netizens have creatively responded to real-time records of these events by developing filters on TikTok to allow users to “raise funds to support civilians in Gaza.” Currently, the filter has produced 6.5 million videos and raised $14,000. Within Gaza itself, 22-year-old Plestia Alaqad has taken it upon herself to record the events on October 9th. Across social media platforms, Alaqad shared her experiences encountering the Israeli forces and documented her evacuation from the bombings in her building.
Measuring Impact
As we have seen, social media offers a window of opportunity to leverage digital technology as a tool for social change. Research has shown a positive relationship between social media activism and civic participation. For instance, the non-profit organization Gen-Z for Change has used Instagram to provide viewers with action items such as signing petitions, sharing the profiles of other activists or providing “the latest updates on state and federal-level legislation.” However, one consideration we must acknowledge is avoiding performative activism — when individuals merely share, re-tweet, or like posts without tangible offline action. Secondly, social media users must participate in sustained and long-term engagement — otherwise, we risk fizzling out the momentum of online activity when it is no longer considered “trendy.”
The value of media activism is generally significant, considering how the mainstream media industry has been known for upholding the narratives and interests of high-profile elites. For instance, mainstream media coverage selectively reports on when Palestinians “protest or physically confron[t] Israeli aggression.” Their efforts become framed as an “escalation of violence,” yet no one is speaking about Israel’s role in the night raids or attacks on Palestinian farmers. As such, scholars have suggested it is worthwhile to lend an ear to grassroots-oriented media organizations, such as Democracy Now! or Al-Jazeera. Successful examples of these minority-led news outlets have shown how we can use these platforms to portray subjects in empowering ways, to highlight “community-specific issues [and] communicat[e] a call to action.”
The rhetoric behind “impactful” organizing has recently shifted as well. Before, activism sought to merely change public policy to identify points of similarity between issues. This shift means recognizing the broader systems of oppression responsible for the topics we see in the news. Furthermore, new methods for encouraging people to participate in social action and recommendations for decision-makers have emerged. The Center for Story-Based Strategy uses the acronym “FRAMES” — define the issue, make the story accessible, emotionally striking and short — to encourage strategic messaging and help organizers communicate their stories impactfully.
Despite this case for social media activism, it is equally crucial to highlight its shortcomings. For instance, social media has invited a battle to “control the narrative of war” and conflicts over “hate speech,” “misinformation,” and “censorship” across international and domestic audiences. The Sada Social Center has particularly noted how “thousands of posts and accounts” surrounding Palestine were removed from social media “since October 7th.” Other creators have been shadowbanned — a method of hiding social media users from one’s algorithm — because their posts share fundraisers, content, and other materials supporting Palestine.
In conclusion, we cannot understate the power of social media activism amidst the ongoing crisis in Gaza. Social media platforms have become crucial tools for organizing protests, sharing educational content, and mobilizing people globally. As seen with Palestine, their usage of social media activism, from citizen journalism to movements like BDS, highlights their role in real-life resistance. While I spelt out the relationship between social media and civic participation, we must avoid performative activism and be aware of how our posts may contribute to hate speech or misinformation. In a media landscape often dominated by selective narratives, grassroots and citizen activism is one avenue to highlight the voices of marginalized communities and shine the necessary spotlight on underreported issues.
Resources I Have Received
Here are a few helpful resources shared by my peers. With this being said, as news consumers, I encourage everyone to fact-check their sources and reflect on their biases before they post.
House of Commons Petition E-4649
House of Commons Petition E-4661
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-4661
Your Basic Questions About Gaza, Answered
Six Ways To Directly Support Palestinians
Email Template and Boycott List
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzxNccyx4Sl/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Palestinian-Owned Companies
Instagram Guides:
Guide #1: The History
This guide explains the ideology of Zionism, attempts to debunk the myth that anti-Zionism is anti-semitism, the history of Israel and colonization, and more: https://www.instagram.com/zeenanismail/guide/guide-1-the-history/18089199679250217/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Guide #2: Gaza
This guide explains the siege on Gaza, the context within the Palestinian narrative, the humanitarian crisis, and visual evidence: https://www.instagram.com/zeenanismail/guide/guide-2-gaza/18111628168216254/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Edited by Alexandra Hu
