Humans have a very nasty habit of labeling things, and many have a cause they want to share. Social media has turned this habit into an all-out trend, and believing what someone is sharing through Facebook has made the world into a circus of sheep following their master.
Animal advocates, gay-rights groups and anyone with a torch to bear have used social media platforms to further their cause. The problem with the age of abundant information is that anyone can say something is true, and others believe it without investigating the matter further. New petitions and reasons to rally invade email inboxes across the world daily, usually with a picture to further persuade the viewer to jump on board and rally with the sender.
Social media has furthered the ability to share information with friends and followers, encouraging the reader to get the information to someone else as quickly as possible. In doing so, the reader shares a cause to their friends without fully understanding why they’re doing it in the first place.
Many people have stopped thinking for themselves since the inception of social media, and are placated with funny videos or believe their voice matters when it comes to having nothing to do on Saturday night.
When a picture invades a Facebook wall with a caption claiming to be animal cruelty or an individual beaten due to their sexual preference, the reader believes sharing that photo will bring justice to the world. The problem is, that’s where the caring stops.
Instead of inundating friends’ feeds with potentially disturbing photographs, readers need to research the matter and what can be done about it in their community.
Animal advocates care about the treatment of animals, but showing a picture of a distressed dog will not help. Stop the pointless sharing of something that may or may not be true, and instead advocates for change should use their voice as well as their mouse to make a difference.
