The slogan #BringBackOurGirls became a rallying cry for millions on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter, where the hashtag was retweeted more than four million times. But the attention of the world outside Nigeria soon faded. Journalists moved on to other stories; the hashtag stopped trending, a reflection that social media is failing. As the New Yorkers Naunihal Singh put it, a viral hashtag, it seems, is a fever that breaks quickly. This isnt to suggest that social media campaigns are worthless. They can be helpful in raising awareness and cultivating a sense of solidarity with the oppressed. But Tweeting, posting, liking, uploading, etc. are no substitute for physical action. Did you know, the girls are still missing? Boko Haram has attacked two towns next door, burning four churches to the ground and killing more than 30 people. And in mid-July it leveled several villages in northeast Nigeria, leaving dozens of people dead and thousands more displaced, kidnapping more girls in the process. In the case of the Nigerian girls, they may eventually be rescued. But if they are, it wont be the result of hashtag diplomacy; rather, it will be due to strong and serious diplomacy conducted by brave men and women willing to confront evil head-on. Read more here: usatoday/story/opinion/2014/08/07/boko-haram-kony-hashtag-social-media-kidnapped-girls-column/13633111/
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 14:17:50 +0000
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