Modern Technology’s Role, Through the Example of Black Lives Matter, in Influencing Societal Paradigm Shifts in Perspective

Utilizing a mixed methods approach this paper looks at the role social media plays on influencing societal paradigm shifts in perspective through social movement, specifically using the example of Black Lives Matter. Through an online survey, questions were provided concerning overall information provided by social media, the impact of news organizations’ attention and coverage of confrontations between protestors and police as well as how social media bolsters social movements’ goals, objectives and reach. These questions provided insight on how social media works through these movements to change individuals’ minds concerning political and social issues, influences varying policies and provides representation to underrepresented groups of people or issues in the context of Black Lives Matter experiences. Findings from this thesis report that a combined effort of using social media platforms and activism to enhance a social movement’s ability to influence societal changes in perspective. Additionally, this study provides avenues for improving policy and advocacy work to benefit social movements through the involvement of social media.

Author

• Lese, Katherine

Language

• en

Keyword

• Social Change
• Black Lives Matter
• Paradigm Shift
• Social Movements
• Societal Change
• Social Media

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Master's Thesis

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Criminology

Degree

• M.A.

Advisor

• Jones, Antwan

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/mw22v6330