Hashtag Activism Research Paper

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Pages: 4

The modern society has given birth to what is known as the social media age. According to Statista, more than two and a half billion people are using social media worldwide; mainly on their handheld smartphones. This number is continuing to grow at an astronomical rate; and it has now impacted individuals lives more than ever. Constantly, users are reaching for their phone to check the latest news and gather the latest posts; all using social media. The ability for businesses, individuals, and organizations to spread their news is easier than ever. Hashtag activism was created by the numerous amounts of hashtags that were being created by social media users to draw attention to a world issue, disease, or trending topic. The ALS Association is one of the many businesses that have benefited, through monetary donations, all due to the widespread use of hashtag activism on social media.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), otherwise known as Lou Gehrig's Disease is a disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement. The disease
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Many social media users have gained inspiration from the campaign and have used that inspiration to develop other forms of activism on social media for the various causes in need. Almost every single time a social media user gets on his or her smartphone, they are impacted by something that hashtag activism has produced, or a new message or campaign that is spreading amongst the world. I believe that although the #ALSIceBucketChallenge is not as heavily shared on social media today as it was in its prime, the campaign will leave a lasting mark on all future forms of social media activism. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge will continue to be used as influence and inspiration for companies, individuals, students, and children who hope to make an impact in this vastly changing world each and every