In a previous post, I mentioned the popular video sharing app, TikTok. Content creators on this app started posting a lot of negative thoughts about the new Heartbeat Act. Activists wanted their voices to be heard and were willing to take matters into their own hands. A creator on the app that went by the name, Sean Black, developed a script that would automatically generate fake reports to prolifewhistleblower.com. This website is used to submit tips about potential offenders of this new law in Texas. Over 8,000 people clicked on the script to submit fake reports as a way of protesting the new law. Texas Right to Life, the creators of the tip site, were told to move to another provider or face being shut down.
The Texas Heartbeat Act is still in effect and there are no current plans to remove this law. TikTok and other social media apps can majorly influence their users. Content on the apps can spread to people throughout the world and cause various reactions. What Sean Black did is just one of many examples of the power social media can have over political issues.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/03/technology/texas-abortion-law-website-tiktok.html
I really enjoyed reading this Emily! It's so cool to see how influential Tik Tok can be. Earlier today I saw a Tik Tok of a group of girls dressed up in outfits from The Handmaid's Tale while a speech was being read in the background. It is really interesting to see everyone's views on this issue and see them spread awareness to it however they can. I also saw a video which says that Satanists say this ban goes against their "religious" views and so there is talk of them wanting to challenge this 6 week ban. If I wasn't on Tik Tok I probably wouldn't have heard of it (or would've heard of it quite later). Just goes to show how influential the app is.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily! This is a really cool example of the interaction between social media and politics. I try to stay off Tik Tok so I wasn't aware of prolifewhistleblower.com until reading this. It's a fascinating example of citizens finding unique ways to make their voice heard and shows how social media can be used not only as a platform for organizing protests, but literally as a form of protest. Whether they want to or not, the people in power will have to acknowledge and respond to the criticism of those they represent.
ReplyDeleteHey Emily! I also wanted to write about this topic, but I wasn't sure how. I think you did a great job! I enjoyed reading this and learning about the reaction on Tik Tok. I also saw Sean Black's Tik Tok, and I was confused and also intrigued. The negative attention on this topic will hopefully remove this unjust law. The more people that talk about it will mean that we get more change.
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