Exploring the Dylan O’Brien Effect: The downfalls of social media activism

Vuyiswa Fumba

The use of social media to efficiently share information, especially monumental and rapidly changing news, has revolutionised how news is shared. However, with this innovative development, often comes the social obligation to share input on trending news, regardless of how little you might know about the topic or the nuance that surrounds it.

Dylan O’Brien is a famous actor and famed male feminist known for reacting to viral news with a trite tweet to display his activism. For instance, he responded to a report about the overturning of Roe v Wade with the words “f**king evil” which sparked other celebrities adopting this method to react to news. This is called the Dylan O’Brien effect.

Social media has placed the onus of speedy responses on regular people and celebrities alike, resulting in a new era of social media activism. Having such open access to strangers on the internet has led social media users to being interested in everything from your breakfast to your most deeply held morals. Whenever news breaks, people are quick to turn to social media without a critical mind. That is, usually, when the mass repost begins, and everyone from Angelina Jolie to your cousin who never posts anything, decides to like and share the viral infographic with its accompanying hashtag. Everyone’s eyes then avert to that one celebrity or family member, who has not posted or said anything, and we all look on with scrutiny and pointed questions. Why haven’t they said anything?

The Dylan O’Brien effect happens when social media masses effectively coerce uninformed people (mainly celebrities) to make declarative statements. Social media activism has increased during the last few years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So why does this new approach to activism often fail? especially during October, South Africa’s national Pride Month. The consensus is that there is a lack of queer representation and inclusivity, a prevalence of stereotyping and discrimination among cisgender and heterosexual students, and this is complemented by a lack of queer events and safe spaces on all campuses. Student Reabetswe Monaledi says “On a large university scale, I believe we are still viewed as ‘out of sight, out of mind’.” She suggests that: “more queer stories and more queer events need to be marketed” and that “ the rest of the student body stands firm in their allyship by supporting queer people, spaces and events.” This is reiterated in another student’s - Skylah Kadin - statement: “I believe more of this representation, whether in media or in person, would ease tension around LGBTQIA+ topics.” The final statement from anonymous student highlights that the discrimination against transgender, non-binary and gender-nonconforming students are still prevalent on our campuses. They said: “The bias and ignorant rhetoric around gender-nonconforming and trans individuals is very prevalent throughout campus, and is seen between students and lecturers/tutors, grounds workers and other students. This is due to the lack of representation and education.” They suggest that: “Lecturers should respect the identities of those they educate and learn to be willing to take correction and be active in not misgendering anyone. Queer psychologists and specialists on campus would make all the difference and a support structure for students struggling at home and with academics because of their queerness.”

Social media consists of millions of regular people. That being said, the average social media user often does not have the required knowledge to share valuable input on all pieces of important news. Not only can this be a gateway to mass misinformation, but sometimes, the influx of posts can clog up reputable sources. For instance, during the 2020 US Black Lives Matter protests. Instagram users resolved to post black squares to show solidarity with American protesters against police brutality. While this was done in good faith, it did more harm than good because helpful updates on the ongoing protests disappeared and were lost in Instagram feeds that became crowded with images of black squares. Despite people’s good intentions, much of social media activism has become performative. People can spread awareness about certain news and utilise this as a Trojan horse to feign virtue and compassion for their own image. So, social media activism often means little more than a gesture and rarely leads to measurable change.

However, it’s not all bad!.This form of activism allows for information to be shared quickly. Every day approximately 95 million Instagram posts are made. Regular users are highly likely to come across important news and causes to support from this staggering number (not considering other social media apps and their statistics). Through social media, news can be consumed in a straightforward way, and the characteristic features of personal engagement, such as stories or direct messages, can also help people understand things more clearly. This could not be achieved through radio updates or newspaper reports, and the modern tendency toward online news might lead to a better understanding of news issues in the long term. Additionally, in the 21st century, your online persona can be used as a portfolio that reflects your values.

While the past few decades have seen a rise in queer prevalence, students of Tuks feel underrepresented and have come up with suggestions on how to ensure their inclusion. The University of Pretoria has work to do regarding the representation of queer students and staff members. Although, UP is moving in the right direction such as establishing two gender-neutral bathrooms on Hatfield campus, there is still a lot of work to be done.

*PDBY reached out to UP for comment on this matter, but did not receive a response before going to print. Any reply supplied by UP will be noted on pdby.co.za

Students can find out more about UP&Out on the following social media platforms:

Email: upandout.tuks@gmail.com

Instagram: @tuks_upandout

Website: https://upandout.org.za

Offices: Akanyang Building 2-51 (next to Vida e caffe)

Image: Twitter.com

Social media activism can help many people showcase what they stand for and easily find forums of people that are similarly inclined to a common cause. By spreading awareness and generating mass support, social media activism can be used as a tool for change. Virality and the responses of regular social media users can elicit helpful and practical courses of action such as petitions that can potentially lead to significant change.

It is easy to want to add your input on everything you come across, especially when social media encourages responsible and compassionate usage. However, it is essential to remember: “not everything needs your freezer-burned take” Instead, try to further your understanding of matters that are important to you or politically and socially significant. If you need a social discussion about it, consult close friends and family who are able and willing to help you expand your knowledge of it in practical ways.