Social media activism has been a topic I’ve been continuously learning about for a while now. I currently have a deep understanding of all the important aspects of it and of using social media to promote good and a brighter future. If there was anything I’ve seen that I could use as an example of my understanding of this topic, it would definitely be the Kony 2012 campaign. 

Earlier this week, I watched a 30-minute YouTube video of this campaign in its entirety. I must say, some of the scenes were hard to watch, especially with the looks on those poor children’s faces. Most importantly, however, the outcomes of this campaign affect me both professionally and personally. 

The Importance of Awareness

To start, I know that Kony 2012 raised awareness tremendously. The narrator of the video even mentioned that he didn’t think it was possible to get people’s attention to the matter, but it turned out to spark conversations about capturing Joseph Kony. However, as we may or may not know, awareness isn’t good enough to get the message out there for action to be taken. That’s a definition of slacktivism. It’s a lesson I can keep in mind when applying for future job opportunities in my fields of interest, because I wouldn’t want to put out content that will result in slacktivism. In terms of using social media for good, the outcomes of Kony 2012 could serve as a catalyst for future campaigns to more effectively spread awareness. 

For awareness to stand out and spark action, there must be specific methods for making an impact in the real world. If you think about it, the Ice Bucket Challenge spread awareness by prompting people to dump ice over their heads, nominate others, and share their videos on social media, resulting in millions of dollars in funding for ALS research. Kony 2012 is different from that because there was a lack of specific methods for getting the word out that Kony needed to be captured. 

As a person and an experienced sports writer, I believe that watching the Kony 2012 video gave me strong motivation to improve my approach to success in the media field. When I eventually do get a media job, the lessons I’ve learned will be valuable in attracting more viewers and increasing engagement for my content. This also applies to my personal social media accounts, where I post a lot of content related to all my interests. 

As always, I look forward to a bright future!