{"id":3859,"date":"2018-02-21T22:11:47","date_gmt":"2018-02-21T22:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocialelement.agency\/?p=3859"},"modified":"2022-04-17T10:32:40","modified_gmt":"2022-04-17T09:32:40","slug":"is-social-media-changing-society-for-the-better-metoo-suggests-it-just-might-be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocialelement.agency\/is-social-media-changing-society-for-the-better-metoo-suggests-it-just-might-be","title":{"rendered":"Is Social Media Changing Society for the Better? #MeToo Suggests It Just Might Be"},"content":{"rendered":"

The #MeToo movement has been getting a lot of attention over the last few months. Week after week, a new story comes out, highlighting the scale of the issue. Our Insights and Analytics team has been keeping a close eye on the social media aspects of the movement, and we\u2019re happy to publish a few blog posts on their findings. First today, our analyst David Woods-Holder explores how the #MeToo movement began, how it has contributed to empowering victims of sexual harassment, and how social media is changing society.<\/em><\/p>\n

When most people think about social media, their first impression is still that it is somewhere to find out what their favourite celebrity is currently eating. However, more than ever, the unconstrained form of social media is beginning to become a force for positive change in our society.<\/span><\/p>\n

The #MeToo movement, which began in October 2017, shows no sign of slowing down.\u00a0<\/span>#MeToo delivered a fundamental change in the way sexual harassment, a subject that up until now had been treated as almost taboo, could be openly discussed and brought to light. This would not have been possible without the medium of social media.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How it all started<\/h3>\n

Although the movement started off the back of the New York Times\u00a0Harvey Weinstein expos<\/a><\/span>\u00e9 on October 5th, #MeToo took the story to a whole new level. It was no longer just about justice for the women brave enough to come forward with their allegations against a single individual. It’s now a fight to change the way society could discuss, act upon, and become aware of the sexual harassment that is occurring every single day all around the world. <\/span><\/p>\n

When we look at how the movement began, it is obvious that social media made this possible. Actress Alyssa Milano chose to use Twitter to reveal that she herself had also been a victim of sexual harassment. She encourages other victims to come forward, appropriating the \u2018Me Too\u2019 movement which began in 2006 by activist Tarana Burke, as a banner for people to get behind. She could have chosen to speak out through traditional media. Instead, she chose a medium which would empower others to voice their own experiences. This takes away the perception that the movement is limited to only high-profile individuals. Anybody can become a victim.<\/span>
\nIt is estimated that across Twitter and Facebook posts, comments and reactions, #MeToo was used more than 12 million times within the first 24 hours of Alyssa\u2019s initial post. Since then, the #MeToo movement has become intrinsically involved in several high-profile events. This keeps the spotlight on sexual harassers and stops society from reverting back to a place where people were too intimidated to come forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Getting political<\/h3>\n

#MeToo mentions waned slightly over November. The beginning of December saw the volume of #MeToo mentions spike in relation to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calling on US President Donald Trump to resign over accusations from a series of women that he had sexually assaulted or harassed them. <\/span><\/p>\n

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President Trump should resign. But, of course, he won’t hold himself accountable. Therefore, Congress should investigate the multiple sexual harassment and assault allegations against him.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) December 11, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n