After the Trump administration revoked federal guidelines that once granted the right for transgender students to use public school restrooms that correspond with their gender identity, social media has had something to say. People have taken to social media to express their opinions. Yes, the place that you will find cat videos and gifs is the same place that is being looked to for more than just a good laugh. Social media gets a bad reputation for being vain, meaningless, and trivial. We have heard stories of the dangers of social media and the bullying that occurs online, but in this moment, with all that is going on, it is important.
Social media is a way of staying informed.
It is another means of reaching news. We don't rely on newspapers and evening news to find out what is going on in the world anymore. Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram have all become means of staying informed.
Social media is a means of expression.
Miley Cyrus is an avid supporter of LGBTQ rights which is obvious through her social media posts and founding of The Happy Hippie Foundation. With 61 million followers, she is able to express her feelings on the topic to fans all over the world.
Social media is a way of supporting.
Sophia Bush took to Instagram to be a voice of acceptance posting this picture.
You may not think an Instagram post will do much, but when social media sees way too many comments like these targeted toward the transgendered community,
Bush's post does not seem silly or dramatic. It seems like something all accounts should be doing to reassure transgender people that they are loved and accepted and that they should not fear what they will read when they open Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or any other social media app.
Social media is a way of speaking up.
While giving a platform for everyone to speak freely does not always end well, it can also be what gives people the courage to speak up themselves. Jazz Jennings is a vocal LGBTQ activist who took to Facebook this week, with her mom, to be a voice for the transgender community. Her video has received 8,800 likes and over 2,000 shares within four days.
So the next time you argue that social media is not important, or that it is the biggest downfall of today's youth, remember that it is not all puppy filters and selfies. It can be a source of negativity or it can be source of positivity. It's up to you.
