✊🏾 The Power of #BlackLivesMatter: Digital Citizenship & Political Engagement 

Social media has transformed activism. With the rise of platformisation - where digital platforms shape how we communicate and engage (Chia et al., 2020) - political participation now happens online as much as in the streets. This shift has fueled digital citizenship, where people use online spaces to advocate for change (Theocharis et al., 2023).

But does online activism actually make a difference? Let’s take a look at one of the most influential movements of the digital age: #BlackLivesMatter.

How #BlackLivesMatter Took Over Social Media

The hashtag first appeared in July 2013 after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin. But it truly exploded in May 2020, with over 1.2 million tweets per day following the murder of George Floyd (Hatfield, 2023).

The movement became a rallying cry, especially for Gen Z and Millennials. While 64% of adults aged 18–29 support BLM, that number drops to 41% among those 65+ (Figure 1). This generational divide highlights the role of social media in shaping awareness and activism.

Figure 1 (Hatfield, 2023)

A large majority of U.S. social media users (77%) have encountered Black Lives Matter content, and 34% have posted or shared something about the topic (Figure 2). This shows that social media is not just a passive space - it is where conversations, debates, and mobilization happen.

Figure 2 (Hatfield, 2023)

Social Media: A Tool for Engagement or Just a Hashtag?

Between 2013 and 2023, about 72% of tweets using #BlackLivesMatter were supportive, while 17% were neutral and 11% were negative (Figure 3).

Figure 3 (Hatfield, 2023)

The hashtag was not just words - it sparked action (Rauschnabel et al., 2019). People used it to: ✔️ Share petitions ✍🏾 ✔️ Contact public officials 📢 ✔️ Amplify political news 📰 ✔️ Mobilize protests and donations 💰

Even political figures took notice. Former President Donald Trump often criticized the movement. In July 2020, he referred to a planned Black Lives Matter mural in New York City as a "symbol of hate" (Liptak & Holmes, 2020). His comments reflected ongoing political tensions over the movement’s goals and methods.

Does Digital Activism Create Real Change?

Many argue that online activism fuels real-world action (Maratea, 2013). The BLM movement led to: 🔥 Mass protests worldwide  📢 Policy discussions on police reform  💰 Millions in donations to racial justice organizations 

What do you think? 🤔 Is hashtag activism enough, or does real change require more? Drop your thoughts below! 👇🏾

#MDA20009#BlackLivesMatter #DigitalActivism #SocialJustice #GenZ #Millennials #RacialJustice #SocialMedia #Politics #BLM #OnlineActivism #Protest #2020Election #DigitalCitizenship

References

Chia, A., Keogh, B., Leorke, D., & Nicoll, B. (2020). Platformisation in game development. Internet Policy Review, 9(4), 1–28. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205727/

Hatfield, J. (2023, July 12). 8 facts about Black Lives Matter. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/07/12/8-facts-about-black-lives-matter/

Liptak, K., & Holmes, K. (2020, July). Trump calls Black Lives Matter a “symbol of hate” as he digs in on race. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/07/01/politics/donald-trump-black-lives-matter-confederate-race/index.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Maratea, R. J. (2013). The Politics of the Internet. Google Books. https://books.google.com.vn/books?hl=en&lr=&id=VZnQAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PR7&dq=Many+argue+that%C2%A0online+activism+fuels+real-world+action&ots=3aHYtvEhVF&sig=nd1fOkgkkDMhIcjzCCdJ1R39dpE&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Rauschnabel, P. A., Sheldon, P., & Herzfeldt, E. (2019). What motivates users to hashtag on social media? Psychology & Marketing, 36(5), 473–488. https://doi.org/10.1002/mar.21191

In case you missed the news, Joe Biden was elected president of the United States. With almost all ballots counted, Biden has over 75 million votes and Trump some 71 million. The Electoral College isn’t even close.

But Trump still has not conceded and some leading Republicans say he shouldn’t.

Senator Lindsey Graham warned on Sunday that Trump shouldn’t concede because “if Republicans don’t challenge and change the U.S. election system, there will never be another Republican president elected again.”

In other words, despite zero evidence of voter fraud, the GOP should attack the outcome of the election because a Democrat was elected president.  

The nation was already divided when Trump became president. But Trump exploited our divisions to gain and try to keep power. He didn’t just pour salt into our wounds. He planted grenades in them.

And now he and his enablers appear willing to pull the pins.

Elections usually end with losing candidates congratulating winners and graciously accepting defeat. They thereby demonstrate their commitment to the democratic system over the particular outcome they fought to achieve.

Apparently there will be no graciousness from Trump and his allies, and no concession from Trump.

They don’t want America to heal. Evidently, they are not committed to the democratic system. They’d prefer continuous warfare because that’s the only way they think they can win.

It’s a nearly treasonous act: Destroy public trust in the system in order to retain power.

Although Americans have strongly disagreed over what we want the government to do, we have agreed to be bound by the outcomes of our elections. This meta-agreement has required enough trust for us to regard the views and interests of those we disagree with as equally worthy of consideration as our own.

But Trump and his allies have continuously sacrificed that trust for partisan ends. And it looks like they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed whatever trust remains.

Trump will be president for another ten weeks. He is already mounting legal challenges and demanding recounts, maneuvers that could prevent states from meeting the legal deadline of December 8 for choosing electors.

If this continues, America could find itself in a situation similar to what it faced in 1876 when claims about ballot fraud forced a special electoral commission to decide the winner.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump, Graham, and Trump’s other Republican allies refuse to attend Biden’s inauguration. Maybe Trump stages a giant rally for himself instead, and Lindsey Graham introduces him as the “real” president. Trump sends firestorms of aggrieved messages to his followers – questioning Biden’s legitimacy as president and urging that they refuse to recognize his presidency.

This is followed by months of Trump rallies and tweets containing even more outlandish charges: plots against him and America by Biden, Nancy Pelosi, “deep-state” bureaucrats, “socialists,” immigrants, Muslims, or any other of his standard foes.

It could go on like this for years. Trump thereby keeps the nation’s attention focused on himself, remains the center of controversy and divisiveness, and makes it harder for Biden to heal the nation. Meanwhile, Lindsey Graham and his ilk keep millions of Republican voters in a state of perpetual fury leading up to the midterm elections of 2022 and the presidential election in 2024.

Now is the time for other Republican leaders to exercise true leadership and ask the nation to unify behind Biden.

Former President George W. Bush made a start. At the same time Graham was warning Trump not to concede, Bush phoned Biden to congratulate him, saying the race was “fundamentally fair” and “its outcome is clear.” In a subsequent statement Bush added, “I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won the opportunity to lead and unify our country.”

Kudos to Bush.

The media (including Twitter, Facebook, and even Fox News) can also help. They have already begun to call out Trump’s lies in real time and cut off his press conferences, practices that should have started years ago. They should continue to tag his lies and those of his allies, and ignore their baseless claims.

Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero today responded to yesterday’s riots at the U.S. Capitol that took place as Congress took up the presidential election certification process. He stated that the National Archives is taking appropriate measures to protect its employees and property, including the Charters of Freedom – the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights – and shared this statement with National Archives staff:  

Yesterday I stood at my office window overlooking Pennsylvania Avenue and watched the angry mob make its way from the Ellipse rally to Capitol Hill. Waving Confederate flags and Trump 2020 campaign banners, chanting “Stop the Steal,” “Four More Years,” and “USA, USA, USA,” these fellow Americans were on their way to disrupt a sacred ceremonial rite of transition in which the National Archives plays an important role. Having watched and listened to the charged language of the rally speeches, I was even more concerned as I watched this mob move by. They were on a mission.  

My pride in the work that our Office of the Federal Register does in administering the Electoral College process was very much in my mind as was the role that we all play in defending and supporting the Constitution of the United States every day. And special pride in the role that our Agency plays in the orderly transition of administrations. As members of the National Archives staff, I hope you share that pride in our mission and the role we play in our democracy.  

As my attention shifted to the televised Joint Session of Congress called to certify the vote, I was horrified to watch the storming of the Capitol and the increased agitation of the mob still streaming by our building. Not since 1814 have the hallowed halls of Congress been breached and those were foreign troops. Yesterday, our own countrymen invaded the Capitol.    

With order restored, at 3:44 this morning, Congress certified the election of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris as the next President and Vice President of the United States. This morning from my office, as the sun warms the limestone of buildings around us, I am reminded of the words attributed to Benjamin Franklin at the end of the Constitutional Convention when asked “…what have we got? A republic or a monarchy?” to which he responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Yesterday we passed the latest test.   

The National Archives’ Role in the Electoral College The Archivist of the United States is required by law to perform the following functions relating to the Electoral College, and delegates the authority to carry out the administration of the Electoral College process to the Director of the National Archives  Office of the Federal Register (OFR). This process includes the following:

Before Election Day In advance of each Presidential election, the Archivist contacts each Governor and the DC Mayor outlining the States’ Electoral College responsibilities. OFR prepares to receive the Electoral College Certificates from the States and contacts Congressional staff to arrange for the delivery of these Certificates to Congress.

After Election Day In the week following the general election, OFR contacts each State and the DC Mayor’s Office to speak with the person responsible for the Electoral College process.

Receipt of Certificates of Ascertainment Certificates of Ascertainment arrive at the National Archives and OFR within a few weeks after election day. The Certificates are noted, transmitted to OFR, logged, and checked for accuracy. Problems are noted and reported to the states for clarification. Once determined to be accurate, they are posted on the OFR website. 2020 Electoral College Results here.  

Receipt of Certificates of Vote Certificates of Vote begin arriving at the National Archives and OFR after the Meeting of the Electors, and the process is the same as the receipt of Certificates of Ascertainment (noted, transmitted, logged, checked, posted).  

Certificates of Vote Subject to the Call of the President of the Senate OFR holds one of the two original Certificates of Vote subject to the call of the President of the Senate (in the event that they do not reach the Senate on time). If the Archivist does not receive a Certificate of Vote from a State within a week of the meeting of the electors, OFR contacts the State to confirm that the votes were sent. If OFR does not receive any Certificates by the deadline, it gets a duplicate original from the Secretary of State of the State or the Federal District judge.

Preserving Certificates After the Joint Session of Congress for the official counting of electoral votes, all Certificates of Ascertainment and Certificates of Vote remain available for public inspection at OFR for public inspection for one year following the election. Afterwards, the Certificates become part of the National Archives collection.

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