Blog post week 4

The Poel and Van Dijk piece we read for this week discusses the terms of acceleration and personalization. These concepts, while complex, show that the acceleration and personalization of social media posts relates to the sum of posts within the movement more so than a singular event or post. They appear to demonstrate overall themes one may be able to identify through the mass of posts within a given movement. One key aspect of acceleration is “instantaneity” which is defined in the reading: “the instant online recording and reporting of unfolding events, and to capture the tone and urgency of the language individuals used in retweeting and requesting instant updates” (530). This factor allows information to be available to the public right away and depending on the post can have more of an authentic depiction than other mainstream news sources. However, one downside to this concept is in cases where inaccurate information is spread. Personalization relates to the idea that one’s personal narrative frames the actions one takes regarding communication. This concept in relation to social media advocacy presents an apparent contradiction. Social media is commonly used as a way to falsify or exaggerate one’s circumstances so the incorporation of one’s true personal story goes against what the platform is generally used for by many people and thus could possibly not be absorbed in a manner that will actually register with the audience. However, personalization in the context of social media advocacy does allow for a considerable amount of progress to be made when taken in by the viewer because personal story and experience communicates genuine emotion. It is also notable that both of these terms can have numerous aspects regarding advocacy and ultimately reflect the way communication of social issues have evolved.

This twitter post exemplifies one aspect of personalization. It uses a quote from a family member of a victim of the Uvalde shooting and expresses part of what that family member has felt since losing their cousin. The use of quotes and language from family members of victims helps communicate the emotion to the viewers, creating a stronger message.