-
The Hong Kong Protests
Year(s): 2019–2020
Primary Social Media Used: Twitter, Telegram, Instagram
Tactics Using Social Media:
Organizers used encrypted messaging apps like Telegram to coordinate protests secretly.
Twitter and Instagram were used to share real-time updates, videos, and images, drawing international attention.
Hashtags such as #StandWithHongKong went viral, garnering worldwide support and putting pressure on governments. -
Black Lives Matter Movement
Year(s): 2020
Primary Social Media Used: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
Tactics Using Social Media:
Social media helped fuel the protests following George Floyd's death, with viral hashtags like #BlackLivesMatter.
Viral videos spread awareness of racial injustice, calling for systemic change.
Live-streaming on platforms like Instagram helped bring attention to police violence. -
The 2020 U.S. Presidential Election Disinformation Campaigns
Primary Social Media Used: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube
Tactics Using Social Media:
Foreign and domestic actors used Facebook and Twitter to spread false information, influencing voter perceptions and engagement.
YouTube and Facebook were used to amplify conspiracy theories like QAnon.
Social media platforms were criticized for allowing misinformation to spread without adequate intervention. -
The Capitol Riot Event
Primary Social Media Used: Facebook, Twitter, Parler, Instagram
Tactics Using Social Media:
Social media platforms like Facebook and Parler were used to organize the storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Twitter served as a key tool for spreading calls to action, amplifying misinformation about election fraud.
Instagram posts documented the violence, further fueling the spread of radical ideologies. -
Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Primary Social Media Used: Twitter, TikTok, Telegram, Instagram
Tactics Using Social Media:
Both sides used social media for propaganda, disinformation, and recruiting supporters.
Ukrainians leveraged TikTok and Twitter to share real-time information, coordinate with allies, and gain global support.
Social media was used to debunk fake news and track Russian military movements, with photos and videos serving as evidence of war crimes.