Whatever happened to “think before you post?”
Granted, the saying is traditionally intended to prevent cyberbullying and child endangerment. But in times of global crisis and the rampant misinformation that follows, we may need this sentiment more than ever.
Right now, the popular attitude on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram seems to be: “post now and think as little as possible.” Post now. Don’t double-check your sources, wonder if you’re qualified to offer your perspective, or–perish the thought–do some of your own research beyond a one-minute clip comparing the situation in Gaza to a birthday party. Post this infographic to your story or else you’re a terrible person who only stands by–as opposed to a hero who (as heroes do) sacrifices a full 30 seconds of their day posting infographics. Everyone clap it up for our brave Instagram warriors.
Can you tell I don’t really like infographics?
Instagram’s “educational” infographics or memes attempt to make bite-sized what ought to be a hefty sit-down meal. Take the Israel-Palestine conflict. Beginning in the 20th century, with roots in BCE depending on who you ask, it remains one of the longest-continuing disputes in the world. Have you ever watched Wall-E? You know the part where humanity’s diet has been regulated to a daily “burger-in-a-cup?” Some things aren’t meant to be made easily digestible.
For once, I don’t mean to be a hater. The function of infographics is their ease of shareability: they can make knowledge accessible to the masses and popularize issues that some viewers wouldn’t otherwise discover. In that sense, I guess they succeed. The problem is that beyond baseline “awareness,” infographics don’t do much to facilitate actual education. For many teens with increasingly short attention spans, activism stops at two clicks: a like and maybe a share. When’s the last time you saw an infographic or informative TikTok and actually left the app to learn more? How recently have you checked if what you read was credible and true? Scratch that–how many times have you read an infographic?
I get it. People are tired of the effort it takes to be “educated.” That doesn’t mean our solutions should trade their potency for convenience. Instagram story infographics have become less about spreading awareness and more about swiftly rectifying the guilt of inaction. Any attempts at deviation from this cycle of futility have been watered down by that same thoughtless two-click activism: filters on TikTok, for example, whose creators claim to donate all generated funds to humanitarian organizations, are being posted en masse by users who’ve stopped bothering to check their validity (e.g., whether the creator ever claimed they would donate their profits, let alone followed through on those claims). These “filters for good” ultimately encourage a similar apathetic mindset as that fostered by infographics (although I admit that their function can produce more tangible results). People want activism–and the gratification that comes with it–quick and easy. So more often than not, infographics and filters become their chosen venue for performative action.
I complain a lot for someone who hasn’t offered any solutions. What should you be doing if not reposting every infographic you see?
In my opinion–which really is of little significance, but you’ve made it this far–social media can be a productive way to spread awareness. But to make this work, individuals ought to self-educate. If you want everyone to become knowledgeable on a particular topic, you’ve got to worry about yourself first. Seek out information directly from those affected. Read multiple perspectives. Share the sources you know to be reputable and encourage others to use those resources to learn. And in cases where the problem at hand might not actually apply to you, aim to amplify the relevant voices instead of vocally centering yourself in a decades-old conflict that you didn’t know about until a week ago. As I see it, this is the only way to avoid the regurgitation of pastel infographics that many reposters don’t understand themselves. If you decide to speak up on a topic, make sure you kinda know what you’re talking about. In other words: think before you post.
(This is not an excuse to stop discussing any issue ever because you’ve stopped caring enough to learn. Again, despite everything, I still believe that social media activism is a worthy objective.
If you have a differing opinion that you’d like to share, questions/comments/fears/phobias, helpful grammar tips, or really good cake recipes, feel free to email me.)
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