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Covid-19
2020-2023. This not only dramatically increased the general use of social media, but made social media a true news source. People where online hourly checking for updates and arguing about thing like the effectiveness of masks, how serious covid actually was, or if covid started in a lab in China. I would say X and Facebook where the main social medias used and tactics included news, how-to's, fear, politics. -
BLM/George Floyd
This was across every social media, but instagram, x, and facebook where primarily used. BLM had been a movement since 2013, but really became a boiling point when George Floyd was killed by a policeman. Instagram had a blackout tuesday shortly afterwards in support of George Floyd and BLM. X was used for organizing protests. Lots of misinformation came out of this like people claiming more police brutality or protest violence. -
Ukraine vs Russia
The first thing that happened here was everybody on Instagram and X putting ukrainian flags in their usernames and bios in support. There was footage of the war and destroyed citys posted by Ukraine reporters and government on social media. They have used social media to raise billions of dollars. They've gotten everyone to band together against Russia for invading them. Showing captured soldiers and poor conditions to demoralize each other. -
Israel vs Hamas
This really became a hot topic in 2023 on social media. This is conflict is a propaganda battle online. Pro-israel highlights hamas' attacks and israels rights to defend itself. Hamas killing children and terrible things like that. Pro-palestine highlights civilian casuals from the counter attacks and bombings by israel and how israel is cutting them off from resources. Both sides use social media to try to gain international support. -
Trump assassination attempt/2024 presidential election
First time TikTok was a pivotal social media site. X was a source of news again with people constantly waiting to find out more about the assassination attempt. Trying to decipher what is disinformation and what's true. "reporters" trying to be first and constantly posting things that were untrue. People on both sides trying to organize events and protests. Podcasts being used as pivotal interviews for election and those clips going viral on social media