Answer to Question #1b
Question 1b:
How things like #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo (these are only examples – choose your own) have changed the concept of power on the web and the world. Find another hashtag from the last 5 years that has also contributed to this change. Explain the hashtag and what it changed/is changing regarding the concept of power on the web and the world. Include screenshots of where the hashtag is being used.
Another example are the hashtags #NDTR, #NationalDayForTruthAndReconciliation, #TruthAndReconciliation, #OrangeShirtDay, #EveryChildMatters, which was used to bring awareness to the residential school system and its impact on Indigenous communities. After the heartbreaking discovery of unmarked graves at these former residential school sites, these hashtags helped raise awareness and sparked conversations about the historical and ongoing treatment of Indigenous people in Canada. These hashtags also helped to educate non-indigenous Canadians about the trauma and injustices faced by the Indigenous people – giving everyone a chance to advocate. It allowed people to share their stories and demanded that the government take action.
Cell phones have become powerful tools for activism. Movements like #BlackLivesMatter, #MeToo, and #NationalDayOfTruthAndReconcilation show how these devices give individuals the power to document injustice and share it with the world. This has shifted power away from traditional authorities and given marginalized groups a way to be heard. By allowing people to share their stories, cell phones have played a huge role in raising awareness and demanding change.
The screenshots from the Government of Canada website shows how the #NationalDayOfTruthAndReconcilitaion hashtag helped raise awareness about the impact of residential schools. It shows that social media and hashtags can actually influence government action, like how this day was officially recognized. It also shows that the democratization of power can push for change and hold powerful institutions accountable.
REFERENCES:
https://www.canada.ca/en/canadian-heritage/campaigns/national-day-truth-reconciliation.html
https://psacunion.ca/national-day-truth-and-reconciliation-uncovering#:~:text=Use%20the%20hashtags%20%23EveryChildMatters%2C%20%23NDTR%2C%20and%20%23ReconciliationWeek.
