Beyond the Black Square by Clara Guthrie

I woke up on June 2nd, 2020 to a swarm of texts: “Have you seen Instagram?” “Are you going to post?” I quickly checked my feed and found an endless stream of black squares.

That day was coined “Blackout Tuesday,” organized by members of the music industry to halt normal posts and stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement after the tragic murder of George Floyd. Its intentions were quickly capitalized on by everyday Instagram users who posted black squares to show their support. The day was later labeled as performative; some users posted simply to signal their allyship, while not posting at all was perceived as apathetic. The day was even considered destructive, as Instagram’s algorithm flooded #blacklivesmatter with black squares instead of information, displaying just how quickly “bad” activism can spread. Nonetheless, I believe the day fundamentally changed how activists and other users interact with Instagram. Almost overnight, my feed transformed into a forum for education and action that I can take, even from within quarantine.

Obviously, Instagram activism existed before summer 2020. But when acts of police violence coincided with the isolation of the pandemic, the ties between activism and social media strengthened. Posts with government officials to call, bail funds to which to donate, and petitions to sign circulated with fervor. This use of Instagram engaged ordinary people in activism, satiating their hunger to organize and protest without breaking COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. I

n typical Instagram fashion, this new wave of activist content was aestheticized to fit the platform. This focus on visuals raised questions about which posts Instagram promotes and which it suppresses. Some content — depending on its attractiveness or impact — seems to have more inherent viral potential than others.

Instagram’s infrastructure has since changed to reflect this rise in activism. Certain tools that enable virtual activism have been present on the platform for years: for example, being able to put links in one’s bio and republish posts. Going further though, Instagram created a donation sticker through Instagram Stories for users to start fundraisers for their followers to donate to without exiting the app. Extending beyond the BLM movement, Instagram has tried to create means to promote social justice concerns and community involvement in many different ways. For example, in the months leading up to the 2020 presidential election, voting became trendy with links helping people register on Stories and voting-themed stickers.

Another way in which the platform has changed in response to this revolutionary moment is that Instagram pages are no longer just for individuals to share their own memories. Now there are pages entirely dedicated to social causes and the spread of accurate information, almost like mini news feeds embedded within the sometimes-vapid world of Instagram. One particular news-oriented site that I followed in the past year and continue to interact with is @shityoushouldcareabout. They post a range of socially aware content on topics including environmentalism, politics and elections, protests, and even pop culture. What feels most resonant about their page is that they make the news — even when extremely important and sensitive — feel accessible, reflecting a definite movement away from stuffy, traditional news sites. In my opinion, this page perfectly delivers on their name in the way that they overwhelmingly make me care, and do so by keeping me educated and active when I could otherwise be ignorant or passive.

It is important to acknowledge that, as a white user, I have experienced Instagram activism and this past year very differently from BIPOC users. I still believe, however, that this rise in social media activism has sparked conversations, enabled accessible activism, and led to genuine allyship that may not have occurred otherwise. Many of us are familiar with the critique of Instagram that it allows people to share their thoughts so openly and anonymously that misuses of the platform run rampant. But I actually think this facade can work in the favor of activists as it permits people to post, like, and comment on what they believe, in a quick and free manner. I can only hope that, as the world opens back up, these Instagram activists remain real, disinhibited, and passionate activists whose work extends beyond a black square.