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The eighth night of protests in the United States 5:14
(CNN) - This Tuesday is Blackout Tuesday, a day promoted by activists to observe, cry and provoke a change in policy following the death of George Floyd.
This movement has spread across social media, where organizations, brands and individuals have posted solemn messages with black backgrounds, sometimes tagging posts with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
Here is the problem. While these posts may be well-intentioned, various activists and influencers have pointed out that posting a black-and-white image with lots of tags obstructs critical channels of information and updates. There are still protests across the country. Arrests accumulate in the thousands. Visibility for different activist groups and projects is key at this time. And one of the most common ways to keep track of all of this is by monitoring or searching for tags.
"We know there is no intention to harm, but to be honest, this essentially damages the message," Kenidra Woods, a mental health advocate and Black Lives Matter activist, tweeted. “We use hashtag to keep people updated. PLEASE stop using the hashtag with black images !! ”. A video scrolling the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter on Instagram proves its point: it's row after row of black squares, with very few notable posts in between.
Don't use the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, activists say
There are two problems here: one, the tags used in Blackout Tuesday posts. Two, the real purpose of posting a black image in the first place.
When you post an image with a tag on, say, Twitter or Instagram, it is automatically added to a search source, which people can find using that tag. It is a common way for people to monitor a situation or interest. And since people have included the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, in the words of feminist activist Jones, the protests have been erased from Instagram.
"When you check the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, they are no longer videos, useful information, resources, documentation of injustice, they are rows of black screens," explained music artist Kehlani in her Instagram story.
People want information to keep flowing
Blackout Tuesday gained strength from the work of music executives Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, who led an effort in the music community to halt normal business operations on June 2 "in observance of long-standing racism and inequality. from the boardroom to the boulevard ”.
As the movement grew, the idea reached individuals and brands that promised not to post any content on June 2 in deference to the situation.
However, there is concern that while what amounts to a virtual moment of silence may be a powerful reminder to some, this comes at a time when the voices of black activists and advocates are most needed.
Rapper Lil Nas X criticized the move on Twitter. "I really think this is the time to push harder than ever," he wrote. "I don't think the movement has been as powerful as it is now. We don't need to stop it without posting anything. We need to spread information and be louder than ever. "
However, some people have taken the call to action to pause the publication of personal or non-Black Lives Matter related issues or ongoing protests rather than total silence. Some widely shared posts about this journey encourage people to refrain from self-promotion and to use their presence on various platforms to drive members of the black community.
