Social Media
Social media can be best identified as a communication tool that enables people to connect with one another. Since users have been given the opportunity to share and receive information, its balance has shifted from the hands of a few to the masses. Social media is a societal influencer that brings awareness and sparks discussions on many social, ethical, environmental and political controversies.
Many social media platforms, such as twitter and Facebook, include resources that allow users to interact with their friends and followers. The hashtag and the "share" button is the most prominent resource offered by social networks. They give users the ability to initiate discussions and share content about their personal beliefs, as well as, global issues.
The hashtag is a word preceded by the pound sign (#). Using this resource grants users the ability to inquire and talk about relevant societal and global issues.
The "share" button can be used by any social media user to repost videos, articles or personal status' to align their profiles to their personal beliefs and interests.
The hashtag (#) has become a convenient resource used to spread messages and spark conversations. In the case of precarious work, it has been used by two groups to inform the public about the issues surrounding the gender wage gap. The gender wage gap, specifically regarding black women, is an important topic discussed by many activists and politicians. On July 28th, individuals such as Hilary Clinton, Fem B. Wells and Kamala Harris honoured the black women equal pay day by bringing awareness to the concern. As twitter users, they addressed the problem by using the #BlackWomenEqualPay. As a result, they brought attention to the day and, most importantly, to the concern.
#HASHTAG
The hashtag was also used by the U.S.A government to receive ideas about the new design for the $10 bill, which they declared would change from a male figure to a woman. They asked the public to submit their idea using the #TheNew10. The American Association of University Women took advantage of this opportunity to bring awareness to the women's gap. They created a video demonstrating the true worth of the new $10 bill to the world.
Using social media platforms, such as twitter and Facebook, the Urban Worker Project has been advocating for the rights of free lance workers. In their attempts to protect, they have begun to review the laws of the Ontario's Employment Standards Act. The group's Facebook and twitter accounts are used to bring awareness to this concern in Ontario. They use hashtags to interact and converse with web users and other groups about this concern. Their accounts are used to spark discussions and offer opportunities to join the movement.
Use of Social Media in Ontario
1. Mojtehedzadeh, Sara. "A New Voice for Labour in a World of Precarious Work." Thestar.com. N.p., 29 Mar. 2016. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/03/29/a-new-voice-for-labour-in-a-world-of-precarious-work.html
2. Friedman, Megan. "Think the Gender Pay Gap Is Bad? Try Being a Black Woman." ELLE. N.p., 28 July 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. http://www.elle.com/culture/career-politics/news/a29539/black-women-equal-pay-day/
3. #TheNew10 Submission. American Association of University Women, 26 June 2015. Web. 20 Feb. 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ikzQM93W8
4.Gaitho, Maryanne. "What Is the Real Impact of Social Media ?" Simplilearn.com. Simplilearn, 13 Feb. 2017. Web. 20 Mar. 2017. <https://www.simplilearn.com/real-impact-social-media-article>
5. Nations, Daniel. "Serious Question: What Exactly Is Social Media?" Lifewire. N.p., 9 Mar. 2017. Web. 29 Mar. 2017. <https://www.lifewire.com/what-is-social-media-explaining-the-big-trend-3486616>