Race, Hatred, and Social Media: Divided We Fall

Race, Hatred, and Social Media: Divided We Fall

The power of social media is undeniable. According to the Pew Research Center, around 7 of 10 Americans use social media to connect with one another. In 2005, just 5% of American adults used one of these platforms. Social media has allowed for rapid dissemination of information, news content, and entertainment. The strengths of social media are apparent, however along with these strengths have come some significant weaknesses.

In his article, “The Negative Effect of Social Media on Society and Individuals” author Brian Jung describes several ways in which social media can be harmful. These include:

1. False Sense of Connection
2. Cyber-bullying
3. Decreased Productivity
4. Privacy

While each of these potential harms of social media exists, yet another danger is the ability of social media to be used to project and share racism.

I recently took a break from studying for an upcoming recertification exam. While I was on Facebook, there was a post from a news station about a local robbery. I found myself disheartened not only by the post itself, but even more so by the comments that followed.

Here is a small sample of the comments from just one post:

• “Not more Black men from the projects…”
• “Nasty BLM people!!!”
• “See black lives don’t matter.”
• “Black people never commit crimes. Fake news, it just has to be.”
• “Monkeys”
• “Always a black person…SMDH.. FIGURES”
• “BLM- black looting mothers”
• “Niggas”
• “And they say blacks are oppressed, they are thieves.”

Reading the comments made it quite clear to me how race is viewed, even in modern day America. Interestingly, weeks later when a similar a post appeared of a white woman stealing from a local synagogue, there were no race based comments at all. 

Martin Luther King, Jr said “ I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” I am saddened to know that that day has yet to come. My own two young children after reading the title of this article began to ask questions about race. I struggled to find the words to explain to them…that there are those who will dislike them, hate them, and even wish them harm simply because of the color of their skin. If social media is society’s mirror, then the reflection is at times ghastly.

It has been estimated that there are more than 2 billion people using social media. Whether it’s mobilizing funds for Hurricane Harvey and Irma relief, or an Ice Bucket challenge to increase awareness and fund research for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), the potential benefits of social media are certain. Social media has the ability to connect people regardless of race, creed, or color. Will social media connect us to one another and our humanity, or will social media further divide and separate mankind? It’s up to us to decide.