On October 8, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war on Hamas in response to Hamas’s surprise, unprecedented attack on Israel. As of November 2nd, the Israeli military has killed over 9,000 Palestinians, including over 3,700 Palestinian children, according to the Associated Press. These tragic events are not one-sided, and because of the complexity and emotional impact of the situation, many people have channeled grief, fear, and passion into hate. Hate is spreading like wildfire. Even from over 6,000 miles away, you can help bring awareness to the situation rather than contributing to the spread of violence and hate.
Social media is one of the most powerful tools (or weapons) of our generation. In order to spread information, news outlets and individuals create a social media “buzz” by posting and reposting certain information so that it is unavoidable no matter who you follow or what your algorithm pushes you. Often, powerful adults hide hateful agendas in graphics or headlines that are (1) easily spreadable, (2) appealing to empathetic consumers, and (3) out of context. But what happens when you share these graphics with others? Now you've spread misinformation and potentially hateful messaging.
It's important to stay educated, stand up for your beliefs, and help others do so while also being conscious of what kind of media you're spreading. So how do you add to the social media buzz while also making sure that you're not inadvertently supporting hate or violence? A couple of things you can do when consuming and especially sharing are to first check the source. Is it a reputable known news outlet? A group that supports one side or the other? An organization that is funded or run by a bigger organization or leader? The answers to these questions can help you decide who wrote this message and what it is supporting. Next, find the context. Images and graphics can purposely have captions or titles that are wrong or misleading. Search multiple reputable sources to make sure this story is consistent and real. And be especially cautious of statements and statistics with no context or background formation.
You hold the power to have a great impact with your social media following, no matter how small. Use it wisely.