Hashtag politics

The internet generation always has habits that have never been done by any previous generation. One of them is putting gadgets in your hands at bedtime and when you wake up. So said Don Tapscott, explaining the results of his research published in his book ‘Grown Up Digital’. Myself, don’t do it occasionally. But the rest, tinkering with gadgets as Don Tapscott said, in order to ensure that the results of his research were not wrong.

I wrote this article when chaos was happening in Egypt. Leaning on my pillow, I followed the debate on Egyptian political conditions via Twitter. While listening to the timeline, tragic pictures of political tragedy in Egypt occasionally appear on the screen. The visual thriller effect drew me into emotional messages. An idealistic question immediately emerged. How can I get involved in supporting a particular group in a political debate?

The application with the blue bird logo seems to open a space for me to get involved. The answer is hashtags. #Egyptmassacre skyrocketed in the trending topic world wide (TTWW) just before midnight. In fact, I found out that the afternoon had just been campaigned. The hashtag is certainly full of ideological content as well as a representation of the political views of its users. As reported on television, the maze of journalists’ reports about what is really happening in Egypt seems to explain that there are facts that are trying to be covered up. Now we also have to change the channel if a reporter doesn’t provide the information we want.

Despite all the blurred images, what is actually happening in Egypt? dissolution, clashes, or massacres? Conventional media such as television are full of political interests. Naturally, if I was willing to turn off the television and then run to the internet. For me, social media can reveal alternative facts that are not provided by the old media. Ordinary people like me have room to express their political stance.

On that very day, #egyptmassacre became the venue for the political direction of its users who consider what happened in Egypt a massacre. Although many experts say that a hashtag tends to reduce its true meaning, its existence still makes it easier for social media users to take action, let alone participate in providing political arguments.

That said, the hashtag movement also plays a role in forgetting what people should be doing, namely taking to the streets. I put off agreeing to this statement. Although there is a point, especially when I find myself making a movement lying comfortably on a soft mattress. But that statement is also wrong because now it is not uncommon for mass groups to take to the streets starting from a hashtag.

 

by Abdullah Sam
I’m a teacher, researcher and writer. I write about study subjects to improve the learning of college and university students. I write top Quality study notes Mostly, Tech, Games, Education, And Solutions/Tips and Tricks. I am a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.

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