Is online protest pointless?

The void is too big and we are too small, too divided. Protesting can seem pointless. But while Trump appeases Nazis and May is concerned about a big clock; nothing brings people together like a trending hashtag.

The movement onto social media makes sense. We use it for dating and shopping so activism seems a logical progression. If you have a couple of tabs open, you can do them all at the same time. Instead of picking up placards, gifs and wit, condensed into 140 characters, are the new form of opposition. Whether for elections, arrests or attacks it is a way for people to show they don’t agree, they are not complicit, and all from the comfort of their home.

This form of protesting is nothing new. Twitter exists for one big conversation, the biggest group chat in the world. But the way people protest has taken a turn; the public is overtaking the political. People like to be outraged and they like it to be seen. Outrage is quicker than research and visibility is more trendy that respect. We don’t care if what we say actually does anything. By tweeting about how awful things are we can pretend to be proactive while getting an ego boost as the faves roll in. We might even get new followers. We all pat ourselves on the back and celebrate what we’ve done. For helping change. Maybe in a modern world, this is how we get modern change? No one seems to know.  Public outrage leads to a discussion but at what cost? Wide miscommunication, incorrect sources and fictional facts infect twitter to its very core. We all know and a lot of people don’t care, they just want to join in with what we are protesting today.

But whether good or bad, what is gained from Twitter flurries is publicity. Celebrities condemning Trump’s behaviour, even if not leading to instant direct change, influences the mindsets of their followers, their fans. Accounts tweeting Theresa May asking if she has anything more important to be focusing on, rather than Big Ben, are voicing real political concerns. Even if in a jovial tone.  News outlets have to take notice and families have to discuss what’s trending over dinner because it can no longer be ignored. I can be a productive space for but that depends on who you follow.We talked about the Nazis in America over chicken. I read about it on twitter.

It might seem hopeless but it’s not pointless. Online protest is over saturated and under informed to the point where twitter becomes a dangerous place. But we all have to agree that it does something; it gets us talking.