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#BlackLivesMatter
Black Lives Matter is a movement that highlights racism, discrimination, and inequality based on race. This movement had a strong presence on social media and a resurgence in 2020. This resurgence addressed police brutality and racial injustice. This disruption was most present on Twitter and Instagram in 2020, with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter growing in virality. Social media tactics like "Blackout Tuesday" and the resharing of informational posts were used. -
January 6th Insurrection
On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol Building was attacked by a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump in an attempted self-coup, two months after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Twitter and Facebook were primarily used in this disruption, spreading misinformation that lead to the attack. Facebook was used to organize the event and real-time updates were provided on Twitter by participants and journalists. -
Gaza-Israel Conflict
The Gaza war has been fought between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups in the Gaza Strip and Israel since October 7, 2023. Twitter and Instagram have been most utilized in this disruption, sharing informational posts, real-time updates, and hashtag campaigns like #FreePalestine. -
2024 Presidential Election
A disruption like this has appeared on social media many times but most recently, it was the 2024 Presidential Election in which Kamala Harris ran against Donald Trump. Many social media platforms are used during a time like this. Twitter (or X) was used for campaign messaging and provided a space for discussions and debates. Advertising was present on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc. On TikTok you could find influencer partnerships, video campaigns for younger generations, etc. -
#MeToo
The #MeToo movement advocates for and emphasizes the ongoing need for systemic change and support for survivors of sexual violence and harassment. While the movement gained online traction in 2017, it still continues. The initial platform for this movement was Twitter, with the #MeToo hashtag gaining traction. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook have also adopted the hashtag and have been used to spread awareness and remain in discussion.