Thanks to social media, all of us have a voice. Certainly, some people have bigger, louder voices — thanks to more followers and/or more influence — but, no doubt about it, we all have the capacity to be agents of change. When I visited Haiti after the earthquake, “Own your voice. Use it.” was one the most important lessons I still carry with me to this day.
So, two weeks ago, when 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped, the world responded. The response may have come to slow, but hopefully, it’s not too late to save as many girls as possible from being sold and married off against their will.
What spurred action? Social media certainly played a role. The hashtag #BringBackOurGirls has been shared hundreds of thousands of times, reaching millions and millions of people across the world.
Look at how the tweets spread across the globe:
In the immediate aftermath, the tweets were geographically limited; however, the pace has quickened and location has rapidly expanded. Today, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that the United States would be assisting:
On behalf of #POTUS spoke w/ #Nigeria’s Pres GJ earlier. US will send security team to help #BringBackOurGirls safely pic.twitter.com/HUhXmc3uHw
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) May 6, 2014
There’s a lot wrong with this sad situation, including how long it took for the world to respond, and the fact that we still don’t know the whereabouts of 200+ girls. But, we should also pause to realize what good happened: When people mobilize via social media, leaders acted. They didn’t just listen. They responded. Because people — from celebrities to “common folk” — made sure their voices were heard.
So, the next time you hear of an injustice or you have the opportunity to come to someone’s aid, remember that you, too, have a voice. Trust your instincts. Own your voice. Use it.