Friends over Followers: Social Media and Visuals in Student Activism for Palestine

Abstract

Although undoubtedly a powerful communication tool, social media’s role in propelling social movements has a tendency to be overstated. Especially in the current age of digital media, where privacy and surveillance have become increasing concerns, the role of social media as it relates to political movements has changed drastically. Tracing the use of visuals and social media by activists during the Arab Spring to the current day, the relationships that current activists have with these forms of bearing witness and spreading awareness is no longer reflective of the dominant literature. Focusing on pro-Palestine student movements, such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), whose activities intensified after October 2023, we can observe how activists' relationship with visuals and social media has turned to one of skepticism, distrust, reluctance, and distaste.