Social Media, Flint, and a Call to Action
A water crisis in Flint, Michigan was trending across dozens of Social Media platforms, inciting rage in users and inspiring action. In the days of old, newer news would have completely replaced this story. However, due to the mass amount of news that can stay in focus thanks to Social Media, the sad story of Flint endures, albeit simmered down. Users will not let Flint go without their deserved justice, and continue to talk about and remind others that Flint STILL doesn’t have clean water.
Even when the news cycle brings about new stories, Twitter has an amazing way of bringing Flint’s water crisis back into discussion. The recent chemical bombings in Syria and the subsequent American attack may be the headline dominating the air waves, but Twitter users are quick to point out the hypocrisy and pull the attention back to one of our most important domestic problems.
Twitter isn’t all talk either. Users are utilizing the platform to promote their Go Fund Me’s to send water bottles to Flint, and garnering retweets and discussion in the hundreds. GoFundMe itself also has dozens of fundraisers to support Flint. The one above has been signified has “trending” and raised over $2000 and counting (the last donation being 4 hours ago at the time of writing this).
Instagram also joins the discussion, echoing Twitter and it’s sentiments to both bring awareness and igniting action. The incorporation of a visual element brings another level of engagement from the audience, and is Instagrams signature for talking about the news through images and videos.
Youtube also joins the conversation. In a video posted today (4/15), “The Humanist Report” provides a scathing commentary on the recent declaration by Michigan’s Governor that the water crisis has ended, providing evidence that residents are still reporting that their water is still contaminated.
All in All, Social Media is not ready to let the water crisis in Flint, MI go untalked about until it is resolved. In doing so, Social Media users will continue to provide new information, draw parallels to other current events, and call each other to act and ignite change for Flint. Additionally, Social Media platforms have drawn a clear line between themselves and traditional news with their dedication to keeping things like this from fading from the public eye. Journalism will never be the same since the dawn of Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.