Social Movements Fuels Cyberactivism

Is it possible for one person to influence an entire world ?

It is estimated that 42,690 deaths from breast cancer alone will occur this year. Currently, there are more than 3.5 million women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the United Stages. People around the world want to help others by supporting them in whatever cause they have experienced hardship or know someone close to them who has experienced misfortune. 

The challenge is, how does one participate abroad and know that their contribution has made a difference. In the age of the internet, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have made Mobilization possible. Now individuals from around the world who want to contribute can do so through the use of Mobilization.

Mobilization allows for rallying large groups in a short period who have similar likes and dislikes on a particular cause.

For example, each October, large groups and organizations celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Through Mobilization, individuals have a chance to participate in this charitable event.  There are numerous activities and approximately $6 billion a year committed to breast cancer research and awareness campaigns. Social media Mobilization has enabled the attention and revenue generated to help continue the fight against breast cancer.   

Sponsoring an event is not an easy feat; moreover, Mobilization requires a lot of planning, execution, and facilitation of vital actions to achieve a successful campaign. Hence why social media practitioners want to be sure that their media initiatives help influence the best behavior change. One of the most raved mobilization events was the circulation of breast cancer Facebook memes.  Women were asked to post their name and the color of her bra she was wearing that day as their status update, thus creating confusion among their men friends on Facebook.  This fun activity raised lots of curiosity about the cause behind the campaign, further helping people connect with those in need.

The Science behind the Power Memes

Memes phenomena subtly represent the tone for today’s social etiquette and culture. Memes cannot be ignored in social media; moreover, it can be used as a tool for self-promotion, branding, and marketing that will ensure one’s fame and success. Although studies have shown that memes are highly unpredictable and untraceable: there is no hard science on which picture, video, or joke will go viral next. One thing is for sure; memes are more of an art than a science.

However, memes can be fun to use; nonetheless, over the years, some students argue that the spoof of Facebook event memes further desensitizes us to future events by continually poking fun at serious topics. Using memes to ignore the problems a marginalized group faces by making the movement about the meme rather than the issue can be problematic.  Contrary, other students argue the opposite that memes do not inherently detract attention from the actual problem itself. Most well-structured campaigns continuously educate people about the cause/issue they are working to achieve.

What is my takeaway from memes? It’s important to mention that there are no specific rules for going viral. It is up to the creator to find something fascinating and influence others to see the same effects. This effect is referred to as freestyle creativity, and by designing the right meme message to attract others, there are no limitations to where one’s creativity will lead and accomplish with its intent.