World Star, Karens and Insurgent Social Media: An Investigation of Social Media Practices as a Form of Activism

In the last 15 years, social media has become an integral part of communication, with the intersection of social media and social justice gaining prominence. This research examines how witnessing injustice on social media affects African Americans' participation in digital forms of activism, drawing on hashtag ethnography to analyze how hashtags serve as organizing tools and sites of collective expression in the digital age. It also builds on media witnessing theory, which suggests that viewing social injustices through digital media creates a morally grounded reaction and shapes audience responses, transforming passive spectators into active participants. Furthermore, the study engages with the framework of Black digital practice to explore how African Americans use digital tools and platforms to navigate, resist, and redefine the narratives of social justice in ways that are culturally specific and innovative. By conducting interviews and creating a digital platform as a site for data collection, this research seeks to identify a specific process that connects viral digital moments to social justice activism. In doing so, it provides insights into the dynamics of witnessing, hashtag activism, and the broader implications of digital engagement in fostering movements for racial justice.