Disruptions

  • Russian Invasion of Ukraine

    Russian Invasion of Ukraine
    After months and years of escalating tension Russia invades Ukraine, a major escalation in the ongoing war between the two countries. As news of the invasion spread across traditional media and social media, social media users took to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to show their support for the Ukrainian people. Social media helped spread information on ways in which people not impacted by the war could help Ukrainian people and refugees.
  • Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill

    Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill
    Florida Governor Ron Desantis signs into law a bill deemed the "Don't Say Gay" bill. The controversial bill prohibits teachers from discussing gender identity, sexual orientation, and other LGBTQ+ topics in Kindergarten - 3rd grade classrooms. As news of the bill spread, people took to social, primarily Twitter, to raise their concerns about the effects the bill could have on young people and the alarmingly high rates of suicide amongst LGBTQ+ youth.
  • Roe v. Wade Overturned

    Roe v. Wade Overturned
    The US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional right to abortion. People took to social media including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to show their support or opposition for the decision. People who opposed the decision used social media to spread information and resources for women to continue to access abortion medical care, including offering options for women who now reside in states that outlaw abortion.
  • Death of Mahsa Amini

    Death of Mahsa Amini
    After 22 year-old Iranian woman Mahasa Amini is killed in the custody of Iranian morality police, social media helps facilitate widespread protests following her death. Across Instagram and Twitter civilians and celebrities showed their support for not only Amini but the women of Iran. Worldwide women posted videos on social media of them cutting their hair as a sign of support for Iranian women.
  • Ye (Kanye West) Tweets Antisemitic Comments Leading to Social Media Bans and Loss of Major Business Deals

    Ye (Kanye West) Tweets Antisemitic Comments Leading to Social Media Bans and Loss of Major Business Deals
    Ye (formerly known as Kanye West) took to Twitter to tweet a series of anti-semitic remarks. While the Tweets were ultimately removed and he was banned from tweeting, Twitter users called for him to be de-platformed. As social media pressure built major companies associated with Ye including Adidas and Gap announced that they would be cutting all ties with him, effective immediately. Instagram users also took to the platform to show their support for Jewish people.