Social media sites are a great news source, but they’re not always accurate. Image courtesy of scmchamps.blogspot.com

Social media can definitely be beneficial or detrimental to one’s outlook on many issues in the world.

Websites such as Facebook and Tumblr allow you to keep up with current events that are happening with just one scroll. These social media sites can create communities for people who have no community to turn to.

However, you do see people posting ignorant comments about good people every so often.

We all know the occasional aunt who loves wine and won’t stop posting Minion memes. Still, I think social media can really be a game changer with activism and bringing communities together. Some people say this isn’t real activism, but for a college student, this can be important for getting one’s voice heard.

Of course, there are people who will never try to see the other side of an issue, but there are people who genuinely don’t know any information about a situation. Once they are informed, they will often try to see both sides.

Sometimes we have to rely on social media to get the bigger  picture of issues.

One example is police brutality. The bigger media sources like MSNBC or CNN haven’t brought these issues into mainstream media yet. When Michael Brown was shot by Darren Wilson, Ferguson broke out into a riot and this occurred in waves. I remember trying to figure out what was happening because every news source was telling a different story.

I remember logging on to the social media site Tumblr and reading about Ferguson from personal accounts from the actual site. Protesters were posting videos before they were taken down. This provided some reliability during a time when it was impossible to get any information from the mainstream news.

Tumblr has helped raise awareness for police brutality due to firsthand accounts. The mainstream news still won’t talk about important issues like police brutality and if they do, it is hard to see both sides of the story. This community raising awareness has helped people feel like they have a voice

On a different note, sometimes people need to find communities online because people who can relate to them are non-existent in real life. Many people who identify as LGBT may live in an area where it is not safe to be oneself. However, logging onto a social media site allows you to be who you really are and find your own community.

For example, there are people who have raised massive amounts of money for transgender individuals who need surgery. All of this is done just from posting it on social media and people spreading the word. It is incredible if you think about it.

Despite all the Minion memes, the Internet can be a great tool for creating a safe space. It is always annoying when people make fun of others for always being on some form of social media. Some individuals may think this is a waste of time. However, it can be lifesaving.

I am sure all of you can think of one time when posting something on social media had a positive impact. Going on these websites doesn’t make us lazy, it helps us stay informed. The Internet is powerful for getting your voice heard when people have silenced you.   

Beck Devine is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected]