“We used to follow the news on social media and now social media is driving the news,” says social activist influencer, Elizabeth Plank on ABC’s Nightline segment, Young Activists Turn Hashtags into Rallying Cries.
Activist videos gone viral have spark controversial conversations; transform countries politics to organized protests on social injustices.
The effect of social media has taken down regimes in countries such as, the “Arab Spring” uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. All accomplished with hashtags and groups of individuals demanding a change in government.
Social media is prominently being used by presidential hopefuls in this up-coming election and in past. In 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, President Obama used social media effectively in both campaign runs for office. His team went full force with social media as a tool for grass roots idealism on steroids to organizer supporters and to get the younger generation out to vote.
In Nightline’s segment, they gather a group of social activists from different races, religions and strong values to discuss topics concerning the future of America.
The social activists in conversation with Byron Pitts:
Sergio Mejia – A 20 year old who pleas for peace in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. He is known for his experimental videos, Meet An Immigrant and Pray For Syria Experiment
Dominque Hazzard – A member of activist organization “Black Youth Project 100”
Jonathan Lykes – A member of activist organization “Black Youth Project 100”
Wardah Khalid – A blogger speaking out against Islamophobia
David Bozell – The executive director ForAmerica.org, one of the largest conservative online communities
Krystie Messenger – A YouTube sensation who teaches women how to shoot
Colin Goddard – A survivor of the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre and now a gun control activist for Everytown.org
Kamal Essaheb – A member of the National Immigration Law Center
Will Ackerly – A former NSA analyst
Jack Blakely – A member of the Young Republican National Federation
Lila Rose – The new face of the anti-abortion movement, Live Action
Elizabeth Plank – A super feminist known for her online activism and her web series, “Flip the Script”
Annie Clark – A sexual assault survivor and the co-founder of the survivor advocacy group, End Rape on Campus
Social media has often been an engine for change in the world. Watch these young minds speak their opinions with Byron Pitts.
