I believe that social media has the potential to bring about real social change. Social media has come a long way over the years, and it’s just going to keep getting more dominant. However, there are downfalls towards the usage of social media for children. For instance, kids aren’t outside playing as much and getting exercise. Instead, they’re indoors on their computers or cell phones on social media networks like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. But social media networks are so powerful and people are starting to realize this and use it to their advantage. For example, KONY 2012 is an international campaign created by Invisible Children; aiming to bring Joseph Kony to justice for abducting children and making them become child-sex slaves and child soldiers. I would have never heard of this campaign if it weren’t for social media. On the weekend, I signed on to Facebook and my whole news feed was filled with people “sharing” the link to the campaign. Later I signed on to Twitter and saw that “#KONY2012” was a topic trending worldwide. The campaign leader knew that if he got their campaign to go public on social media networks, then the video would go viral, and people would want to help internationally. And that is exactly what happened. People all over the world are now buying the Kony 2012 Kit where the proceeds go toward the campaign. People all over the world are joining together to volunteer for this campaign. It’s pretty crazy to believe that all because someone made the video about the KONY 2012 campaign and posted it on YouTube, how fast and how many people got involved and are trying to help. Social media can be a wonderful thing. So yes, after witnessing first-hand what social media can help accomplish, I definitely do agree that social media has great potential to bring about real social change.
