Whose tweets? The rhetorical functions of social media use in developing the Black Lives Matter movement

Abstract

Research on collective action frequently characterizes social media as a tool for mobilization. However, social media activity can fulfil a variety of different functions for social change. In particular, the rhetorical functions of social media use by social movements are not well understood. We address this shortfall by analysing the rhetorical functions of Twitter use during an early stage of the Black Lives Matter social movement. We examine how activists used Twitter to balance competing aims for social change, such as growing the movement beyond disadvantaged‐group members, while preventing appropriation or dilution of their message by advantaged‐group ‘allies’. We find that although Twitter users promote different, and often competing, definitions of the issues that the movement represents, rhetorical strategies are used to advance inclusive definitions that focus on racism. When activists address alternative definitions of movement actors and issues, representations of Otherness are used to characterize the proponents of these definitions as in opposition to the movement. Finally, we find that one way of resolving the tension between growing the movement and promoting disadvantaged‐group control is by using identity and technology resources to explicitly define (1) how different groups can be movement advocates, and (2) action strategies for social change.

The Volatility of Collective Action: Theoretical Analysis and Empirical Data

“…Making the distinction helps to test the hypothesis that allyship (in the sense of helping a group perceived to be distinct or different) may be more likely to arise from instrumental purposes (e.g., to achieve the ingroup's own political aims; Droogendyk, Wright, Lubensky, & Louis, 2016;Iyer & Ryan, 2009). Helping from a position of distance instead of solidarity would increase the likelihood of contested choices, such as selecting tactics without reference to disadvantaged groups' norms or misrepresenting their identity (Wilkins, Livingstone, & Levine, 2019). Allyship as opposed to solidarity would also increase dependency-affirming strategies that subtly keep disadvantaged group members "in their place" (Wiley & Dunne, 2019).…”

Changing the narrative: a call to end stigmatizing terminology related to substance use disorders

“…More than ever, due to technological advances and the effects of an isolating pandemic, social media has become a tool for mobilization and quick dissemination of information (Wilkins et al 2019;Gonz alez-Padilla and Tortolero-Blanco 2020;Kudchadkar and Carroll 2020). As expressed by Yeung (2018) social media remains a relatively untapped source to mobilize policy action and social change.…”

“…Revolutionizing the way in which we communicate, social media has the capacity to change our beliefs and attitudes, whom we connect with, and how we engage with social justice and activism (Gonta et al 2017;Yeung 2018). Using the Black Lives Matter movement as an example, phrases that have been often misconstrued as inoffensive such as 'All Lives Matter' have been called out and corrected on social media platforms (Gallagher et al 2018;Wilkins et al 2019). A study aimed at evaluating the relationship between media exposure, age and attitude on homosexuality concluded that higher media exposure levels fostered more accepting attitudes (Gonta et al 2017).…”

Kimoyo Beads, Multiverses and Crossovers: Establishing (Re)connection in the World of Marvel’s Black Panther

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