Social platform can help strengthen democracies
On social media opinions can be voiced, audiences can be reached and connections can be made in a way that can’t be done offline, said activists at the University of Toronto’s Hart House on Thursday.
Platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow people to get information about the social causes they are interested in.
“Activism on social media gives a voice to people who otherwise may not be comfortable with the idea of protesting and allows them to make their voices heard. It’s a democratizing platform as well,” talent manager Daianna Williams told RSJ.
Social media is a democratizing platform
From a democratic lens, social media platforms have gotten so massive in such a small amount of time, said research manager Samantha Reusch.
“Social media has helped change the dynamics into whose voices are heard, elevating platforms that would otherwise not be elevated and allowing access to different spaces,” Reusch said.
The connection and trust that is built on social media is what draws in audiences. “The most amazing part about social media is you tend to bypass all those established systems and face your audience and try to find wisdom,” said China analyst, commentator and TV writer Wen Zhao.
It’s ‘okay’ to unplug
Constant interaction with social platforms can leave a person with the feeling that they always need to be aware and updated of every issue, says writer and content creator Shantal Otchere. However it is okay to not be plugged in to every issue, she added.
“When it comes to our consumption of social media, we’re constantly being inundated with all of this information and I think it’s okay to choose which ones we stay connected to and which ones we sort of mute. I don’t think our minds are designed to function this way where information is constantly being uploaded to our brain.”
