Lately, a notable spike in virtual activism across the globe saw the advent of interesting online challenges to keep Internet users busy in the lockdown. From meaningful causes to creating awareness around stigmatized topics – these hashtag supported challenges are mainly designed by marketing agencies and brands as part of their promotional strategies around campaigns. Although, the good thing is once the campaign goes viral the message amplifies in millions within a short period and creates the right kind of buzz on popular social platforms.
In the past few months, millennials and Gen Z netizens actively engaged in talking about social issues and taboos through some interesting games and challenges that were cleverly planned to engage users from all walks of life. From the Red dot challenge to Black and white challenge, Black lives matter, End colorism, Childhood matters, and Together band support – on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, the hashtag activism spreads like wildfire and even has the potential to make a huge impact.
In May, Unicef India and Post For Change brought together actresses like Aditi Rao Hydari, Kubbra Sait, Diana Penty, and online influencers to raise awareness around “Menstruation Hygiene Day” on May 28th. As part of the red dot challenge, users were asked to talk about period shaming and post a picture with a bright red dot. The message on the official Instagram read, “While so much has happened so fast, one aspect of a girls’ life has not changed – she still gets her period every month, with even more challenges due to the lockdown and restrictions. Most girls have their first period with little knowledge of what is happening. Periods don’t stop for pandemics. And neither should our support for young girls because #MenstruationMatter, always.”
Later on, international challenges with posts on #womensupportingwomen or the #challengeaccepted series flooded the social media to raise awareness about female feticide. Actors like Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Kristen Bell, Eva Longoria, and Khloe Kardashian shared this challenge on their Instagram pages and it circulated like chain mail among women, who nominated their friends to carry forward the chain with their black-and-white portrait.
A similar UN-supported challenge called #togetherband challenge was also in the news as it raised some important concerns around racial inequalities, gender, religious, and workplace discriminations. The challenge was supported by transgender model Mimi Tao, who wrote on her Instagram, “As a trans model, I found challenges finding employment in the fashion industry, was sometimes shunned from society, and my mother was hurt at first when I told her about wanting to be transgendered. I am TRANS and PROUD.”
OTHER TOP CHALLEGES IN THE LOCKDOWN :
1.Vogue challenge : The “Vogue Challenge” went viral as black fashion photographers, models, designers, stylists and make-up artists recreated their version on the cover of the iconic magazine.
2.End Colourism: The challenge invites people to post a photograph with normal skin colour against a photoshopped picture with a brighter skin tone to raise awareness about skin colour bias.
3.Wear a Damn Mask Challenge: To stop the spread of corona virus, actors and influencers like Jennifer Aniston, Tracee Ellis Ross, Kerry Washington, and more posted masked selfies with masks to raise awareness.
While the social media challenges continue with viral content, our biggest challenge right now is to get done with Covid19 pandemic and if you have any interesting suggestions to end this disaster, so comment below. Stay safe and don’t forget to wear a mask!
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