Hashtags have emerged as a new form of activism on social media. They’re also a great way to get noticed on Twitter, Facebook and many other social media outlets. Below we look at #GivingTuesday and Other Notable Hashtags that are leaving a mark on the world of social media.
#GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday began in 2012 as a response to Cyber Monday, which was created by marketers to encourage shopping after US Thanksgiving. According to the hashtag organizers, #GivingTuesday, “harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to bring about real change in their communities. It provides a platform for them to encourage the donation of time, resources and talents to address local challenges.”
Last year alone, organizations involved in the program raised more than $100 million from 700,000 donors. And it all started with a simple hashtag!
#PrayForParis
The horrific Paris terrorist attacks in November 2015 resonated deeply with social media users. More than eight million tweets alone were made after the attacks, which left 130 dead and hundreds more injured. The hashtag was part of a global outcry denouncing terrorism and encouraging love and hope for humanity.
While a simple hashtag campaign can never bring the victims back, it can create the awareness needed to bring about real change in our world.#PrayFor hashtags have since been adapted to convey messages of support for other tragedies around the world.
#LoveWins
In June 2015, the United States Supreme Court made it legal for same-set partners to marry…. YAY! Social media was the perfect place to celebrate the landmark ruling. #LoveWins quickly spread throughout the Twitter-sphere. Hundreds of celebrities and politicians used the hashtag to express their support for the decision. Even US President Barack Obama pledged his support for same-sex marriage on Twitter.
#BlackLivesMatter
#BlackLivesMatter is a perfect example of a hashtag that leapt from social media and into the real world. Appearing over nine million times on Twitter in 2015, #BlackLivesMatter gives a call for social change in a society deeply segregated by race. The movement came in response to several fatal incidents involving police and unarmed black youth. It later sparked massive protests and riots across the country.
#DonaldTrump
Donald Trump swept through the Twitter-sphere in 2015 after announcing plans to run for president. By the end of the year, Trump’s campaign had taken over social media and local news across the United States. This only intensified after the real estate mogul won the Republican nomination. His unconventional tactics and personal attacks – lobbed from Twitter no less – were not lost on voters. The GOP candidate’s divisive politics eventually landed him the White House in a shocking turn of events that has many pundits convinced of the death of establishment politics as we know it.
Which hashtag do you use the most? Tweet me @Charli_Says and let me know