The Impact of Technology on the Popularity of BLM Among Students

In the 1960s, the best way to pass information about racism was through the telephone. About 40 years later, advocates of racial equality had a wider choice of technologies. There were mobile phones and internet technology. Today, social injustice activists have almost unlimited communication channels thanks to technology. 

The difference between the success of the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the success of today’s BLM is the type of technology in use. Unlike the 1960s, today’s anti-racism advocators and lobbyists have access to an array of technologies. The BLM has become popular among students due to technological impacts. 

What is the BLM movement?

The originators of Black Lives Matter were Alicia Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors. They aimed at building a movement focused on black people. The trio created a social media hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. The trigger was the arrest and acquittal of George Zimmerman. He had been accused of shooting Trayvon Martin in 2012. 

BLM is an example of a movement that has recorded success due to technology. College students have helped spread the movement goals on the internet. One of the ways a student can help fight racism is through writing. The teacher may assign a Grateful essay BLM or another important topic in education. Here, you can first read different Black Lives Matter essay examples on WritingBros to get ideas. The examples are written by experienced writers to inspire students. They are available on the website for free. 

BLM gained national attention in 2014 and then global attention following the death of George Floyd. Its main purpose is to fight racism and police violence against back people. In the US today, a black person is much more likely to suffer police brutality compared to a white person. The BLM activists insist society should give value to black people just like white people. 

Major BLM protests have been held across the US and internationally. The movement is decentralized to the grassroots and is led by local activists. Each local chapter plans its protests, campaigns, and programs. They all operate under the main umbrella body, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation. It has offices in the UK, the US, and Canada. 

How does the development of social networks affect the popularity of BLM?

The important role played by movements cannot be underestimated. In the past, movements have been used to force change in laws, policies, and politics. Most social movements arise due to discontentment in the social systems. Their success and continuity rely on available resources at the moment. The key resources required are money, technology, and support from the public and other groups.

Movements of the 1960s relied on the available technologies then. Today’s movements rely on the available technologies and resources. One of the key technology available today is social media. The BLM has leveraged social media to gain global popularity. Students around the world have been key advocators of BLM, thanks to social media technology. 

Although there was some form of social media in the 1990s, the main platforms started in the 2000s. Facebook was only used by students until 2006, when it was launched for everyone. Since then, the platform has remained a favorite of students. Social media platforms have remained the main tool for discussions for students. 

The main media, such as TV and radio, promote the flow of information from top to bottom. This hasn’t made the main media a favorite for promoting movement activities. Social media brought a paradigm shift where information flows from the bottom up. Social media users at the bottom are the best advocates and campaigners of movements. This is the main strategy that the BLM has leveraged. It is the best strategy to counter influence from the main media. 

Instead of relying on the main media to mobilize support, social media has become the main mobilization structure. Since 2013, the BLM movement has strongly held on the social media anchor to spread its goals. Surprisingly, it has succeeded in reaching a global presence within a few years. 

How the internet has been used as a way to popularize the problem of racism

Since the time of slavery, racial prejudice has remained a thorny issue in the US. A lot of people have prejudices against people of another race. It could be based on color or ethnicity. Racism prevents people from achieving their potential in many ways. One generation passes racial hatred to the other, but many activists are fighting this vice today. The internet is their main tool, and they are recording a resounding success. 

The internet is widely spread today, with over 60% of the global population having access to an internet connection. All types of content are available on the internet, such as blogs, YouTube videos, and scholarly content. Everyone with internet access can create content that advocates against racism. Each type of content uploaded on the internet has the potential to reach over 5 billion people globally. This is one of the main reasons why the internet is important in popularizing the problem of racism. 

What is the role of technology in driving positive change?

Technology development has brought better things than evil into the world. It has played a central role in bringing positive change to the world. It can be used to create an app, deliver goods fast, or pass information within milliseconds. One of the main benefits technologies has brought making communication simple and easier. 

Information today is available and accessible to everyone 24/7. The same technology is being used to develop newer technologies that make lives easier. Doing business, traveling, and generating reports is easier. All these benefits are driving positive change in the world. 

Conclusion

The BLM movement was started in 2013 to fight against police brutality against black people. Today, it is a global movement with main offices in the UK, US, and Canada. The movement is popular among students, and social media is their key tool for spreading its goals. BLM is also fighting against racism, and the internet has been crucial in popularizing the problem. Thankfully, technology is driving positive change in the world fast.