Being more involved on social media has made me more in tune to current events. Before finding my voice on Twitter, I was incredibly lost within the political sphere. I did not understand big issues or even fully understand just how much politics affected my life and the lives of my friends and family. During the 2008 election, I thought I knew my political affiliation based off of the opinions of my peers or the popular choice amongst my friends. In 2009 I made my twitter. By the 2012 election it became clear to me how incredibly different my views were compared to the views of my community.
Being active on Twitter exposed me to bipartisan opinions I otherwise never would have considered. I didn’t think I cared about the results of such a historical election because I wasn’t really knowledgeable about how the lives of others would be affected.
Why does everybody understand politics but me.
— Abby Wells (@abbyywells) January 11, 2012
Once I began paying attention and following an intelligent, active group of people, I was being exposed to information I had not been seeking out on my own. Studies show political tweets really do change minds, and they certainly changed mine. I am always inspired by the users I follow who use their large fan-base to voice what they think is right.
Because of Twitter, I feel as though I have more of a voice. In today’s political climate, I no longer feel as though I’m not allowed to have an opinion because I don’t know enough about the topic.
the only good thing to come from this is my timeline full of tweets equally in shock, at least I know Ive surrounded myself with good people
— Abby Wells (@abbyywells) November 9, 2016
I do have an opinion, and social media has allowed me to express it.