ebb and flow.

The growing presence of social media in our daily lives has also opened the door for conversations regarding traditionally taboo subjects such as race, gender issues, and politics with complete strangers in a public arena. Traditionally these conversations were frowned upon in public and even with those outside of your own immediate family, but with social media and the growing need to share every moment and thought we have with our friends online these conversations happen daily. I can’t help but think that without social media, specifically Twitter, major events such as Ferguson and the Trayvon Martin case would not have attracted the attention or support that they did with the help of the social media platform. Users of the site were quick to tweet and post about their opinions of the events, and engage in conversations with family members, friends, acquaintances and strangers about their thoughts on the events. Without the site the stories would have picked up a bit of attention locally, maybe a quick side note on certain news stations but it would never make national headlines without the countless tweets and posts in support of the victims.