At the turn of the century, our society was introduced to a new form of media. It was a way for average people to connect with others across continents to share their pictures or messages. Use of social media has grown astronomically in the past decade and has resulted in its young influencers to pave the way for many trends across the world. In past years, building an influential voice took years, but with the rise of a video-sharing app, TikTok, whose algorithm allows for anyone who posts to have a chance to go viral, many of today’s youth have that voice. Following recent events, many creators use their voices to inspire youth activism within their audience.
“The duty of the youth is to challenge corruption”
Kurt Cobain
TikTok, especially, has become a place of political activism, sharing details of upcoming protests and striking videos of police brutality. Following the uproar regarding the death of George Floyd, there was a boom of hundreds of videos depicting police brutality broadcasted across the platform. Since then, the hashtag “BLM” has collected 10+ billion views on TikTok alone. The influx of information and corruption opened the eyes of many users of the app, most of which are part of generation Z. Thus sparked the trend of youth activism across the country. Influencers now used their platform to share their ideas and spread new information regarding the situation. But certain influencers see the bigger picture: that social and political activism should not merely be a trend.
Youth Activism is Not a Trend
I spoke with one of the leaders of activism on TikTok, Jake Dugger, who described the rise of youth activism as empowering, liberating, and indestructible. Jake, who is part of the LGBTQIA+ community, has been witnessing prejudice since they were young. They now use their platform to educate their followers and inspire them to make valuable changes in the world.
TikTok has been the birthplace of many peaceful protests. This includes the July 7 economic black-out as well as protesting President Donald Trump’s Tuska rally. But social activism is slowly dying out of TikTok’s algorithm to which Jake Dugger urges followers to “keep their foot on the gas”. Many people watching the protests from the comfort of their homes ask themselves “when will things go back to normal?” But social activism fights for a new normal to reduce bigotry and discrimination. Jake states in an Instagram video posted on July 11 that “black lives matter not only today, not only tomorrow but every day”.
People are Starting to Listen
Throughout June, creators produced more and more content regarding BLM and other activist movements. Younger generations spread videos and unbiased news concerning certain riots and protests occurring across the world. Collectively, users spanning all social media platforms formed the front lines of the BLM movement, sharing their voice for people to listen. Users were posting links and videos to their TikTok and Instagram, sharing protest details, and exemplifying ways the average person could support the movement. With this, generation Z discovered the true power they held in politics; they realized they could make a difference.
Jake stated that the most important factor for them is “maintaining an authentic persona”, to speak with “empathy”.
One could perceive youth activism as a trend if not talked about passionately and consistently. Although young, Influencers like Jake have inspired younger generations to be activists in their communities. Jake explains that “everyone should feel not only obligated but compassionate to fight for oppressed groups”.
Keeping Our Foot on the Gas
Though the BLM movement has gained tremendous support throughout June, activism needs to pursue until a valuable change is made. And even still, activism does not conclude once black lives are fought. Environmental and immigration issues have yet to be heard. Generation Z finds influencers on social media as icons to look up to because they are a shining example of people just like them. They are the average teenager fighting to make the world a better place. It proves that change doesn’t have to start with the adults.
2020 marks the year of self-evaluation. What have we done, on an individual level, to help our world progress? I watch many of my peers laugh at the thought of change as they watch the millions of people protesting across the country. Our parents conditioned us to their perception of the world, but we are not our parents. We need to be proactive in informing ourselves of the state of the world we live in. In Jake’s words, “turning a blind eye to the real world is detrimental”.
Staying out of politics is not an option. It is a privilege to not be involved, to not have to worry if your livelihood is at stake in the hands of those who are meant to protect you. Those who remain silent are part of the problem. For too long we have let our voices go unheard. Though we are young, we are the next generation. One day, we are going to be the once in power. What do we have to say?
Full Interview with Jake Dugger
What are your views on the mass support that the BLM movement has gotten from younger generations? Why do you think today’s youth are so willing to speak up for what they believe in?
“It is truly admirable. As someone who has always advocated for social justice and human rights, seeing the prevalent wave of activism throughout my generation (generation Z) is liberating. It is empowering. And it is indestructible.”
Being still a teenager, do you feel that you have to maintain a certain persona while talking to people so they can take you seriously?
“Maintaining an authentic persona is very important. Teenagers and young adults are often underestimated due to our age group. To me, it is important to be authentic and express compassion and empathy for equality and social justice. Authenticity, persistence, and empathy are key when it comes to fighting for human rights. It is so important to have that energy when bringing light to these issues.”
Do you feel that it is an injustice that teenagers are forced to step up to the plate when older generations fail to progress as a society? Is activism a human obligation regardless of age?
“I believe it is mandatory for us to recognize and use our privilege when older generations have failed us. It is mandatory for us to be vocal, and get our message into the world. If you choose to sit back and brush off social issues and oppression, you are simply part of the problem. With modern-day technology, it only takes 1 minute to repost educational information, sign petitions, and educate yourself, your family, and your peers. Silence is violence, and silence is impactful on a global scale. I believe it is an injustice for us to not put our privilege towards making a change. I believe activism can be a very taboo subject when in reality, everyone should feel not only obligated, but compassionate to fight for oppressed groups all over the nation, and ultimately the world.”
What was your journey in activism? Where did you first start witnessing injustices?
“Ever since I was young, I wanted equality for everyone. When I was about 5 or 6, I could never understand why people were so hateful. I couldn’t understand why people were murdered based on race, sexuality, identity, religion, etc. Once I was old enough to form an opinion of my own, learn optimism, and educate myself, I just began constantly speaking my mind about social issues, inequality, and human rights violations.”
“I grew up in a predominantly conservative, white, and very small town and was often undermined for my political views, or how I chose to use my platform. The town I grew up in was rooted in bigotry, and being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, I often faced discrimination in various forms. Up until the end of my senior year, I was looked down upon due to my political stance, sexuality, and self-expression. I had no idea that months later I would have a platform with 80k+ followers who take away from what I say and use it to educate others.”
How do we, as a society, prevent BLM and other activist movements from merely becoming a trend?
“The most important thing to do is to keep our foot on the gas. It is not about returning to normal, but to building a new normal and fighting to reduce social injustices, discrimination, and inequality. It is important to recognize and acknowledge what is happening around us. Turning a blind eye to the real world is detrimental.”
“You posted that black square [A statement regarding #BlackOutTuesday], but did you continue to use your platform to shine a light on racial injustice? Did you sign petitions, and encourage others to do so? Did you donate if able, protest if able? Have you self-evaluated and considered adapting to an optimistic lifestyle? Have you called out those racist friends and family? Do you take the time to educate yourself to further understand systemic and systematic oppression? Do you have those uncomfortable but important conversations? Racism is a spectrum and can occur in many different forms. This is something people tend to have trouble understanding, and that is why it is so crucial to educate yourself. Movements of activism are not “trendy” and they do not just go away after a week. It is about momentum and recognizing the importance, and impacts of these movements.”
How are you currently using your platform to spread awareness about current human rights and political issues? This could be through discussions, entertainment, or podcasts.
“I have been lucky enough to be given the platform that is TikTok to educate and encourage my followers to speak up about human rights. I am constantly using my platform to advocate, and shine a light on social issues. Unfortunately, I have noticed that many people’s activism tends to be performative, and “in the moment”, and I try to educate my followers about how important it is to keep their foot on the gas, and be consistent when using their platforms to raise awareness about these things. I am very compassionate and empathetic when it comes to politics, human rights, and social issues, and I use my privilege to speak up for those who cannot. I encourage my followers to be optimistic, and open-minded because past generations have been indoctrinated into ignorance and blindness. That is not something that can continue, and my generation recognizes that.”