After this week’s
readings, I was inspired to look into the extent that minorities use social
media. Many minority groups have turned to social media websites such as
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to voice their thoughts and opinions, becoming
a major influence on the media. According to MSNBC, over 69% of
African-Americans between the ages of 18-29 use social media on a regular
basis, 6% more than white Americans. With such a significant majority,
minorities (women included) have found a unique outlet to speak their minds
without worry of criticism. I have seen this first hand with my use of twitter.
Often times when I log onto Twitter, I notice that some of the topics trending
in the US are fueled by tweets from minorities, which is very neat to see.
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| The Twitter trends from 9/20/12. The third one down, "Tamar & Vince", links to tweets about African-American singer Mary J. Blige |
Minorities have
also begun to use social media sites for advertising and promoting their
causes. According to a study done at Georgetown University, over 50% of
minorities believe that their causes are benefitted from advertising on social
media. By tapping into a media outlet Caucasian
Americans scarcely touch, minorities have found a way to foster involvement in
their causes and to promote community interaction. Social media has opened up a
new avenue for minorities to make their voice heard and spread the word about
their causes, creating a stronger community and breaking some of the racial
barriers in today’s media.
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