Hashtags and Topoi in Social Media Activism
- bdemouy1
- Sep 16, 2022
- 1 min read
In Ruth Osorio's "I Am #ActuallyAutistic, Hear Me Tweet: TheAutist-Topoi of Autistic Activists on Twitter," a deeper understanding of how social media activism can be more then just posting a picture is gained. When thinking of activism on social media, many first think about how any individual can post their opinion online and finding the truth is nearly impossible. However, with the use of specific hashtags to categorize topics and highlight certain speakers, a topos is created. As stated by Osorio, "topoi can help rhetors generate novel arguments, circulate within and across borders, and adapt to new sources of knowledge." To explain, this means that with the creation of topoi, a theme is created in conjunction with the topic at hand. These themes can be connected through the use of hashtags and give a voice to those with first-hand experience or knowledge within the topic. Thus, creating a more centralized community for those looking for information within a specific social issue.
This can be seen in the movement advocating for stricter gun laws and the use of the hashtag, #stopgunviolence. As the hashtag is being used, it connected people with individuals that have been impacted by loose gun laws, statistical information, and resources to become more involved with the issue at hand. The hashtag, when used properly, creates a topos. In this case, a theme of speaking out against gun violence and how lackluster gun laws need to be addressed within our communities.
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