Vive la Facebook

A few days ago, a coordinated terrorist attack in Paris, France murdered over 100 innocent people and wounded hundreds more.  It’s saddening and infuriating, as all terrorist actions are.

What I want to write about, however, is something that happened in the aftermath that I also find saddening and infuriating, in a much different way.  It’s the response of Facebook users to this tragedy, and to other man-made catastrophes similar to it.

Within hours of the attack, before we even knew of the true scope of it, Facebook had created a way for users to show their support for France by putting overlaying the French flag to their profile picture.  Untold numbers of users have utilized this new feature.  Now, this seems benign enough, why would that be saddening or infuriating?

Because the vast majority of those users are only trying to make themselves look/feel better.

I’m not saying these Facebook users don’t care about the victims, or the victims’ families.  I believe they do.  But let’s get real, 'supporting' them or France by adding a transparent French flag on social media for your friends to see is not making the slightest difference.  At best, it’s a self-serving coping mechanism, not to mention a PR win for Facebook.  At worst, it’s a faux-show of concern over terror victims, and terrorism in general.

We’ve seen how social media can be powerful tool to elicit social change in the world – in some instances, not for the better.  However, no good change whatsoever is going to result from a short-lived symbolic gesture like this.  It doesn't DO anything, that's the saddening part.

Here's the infuriating part:  Most of these same Facebook users couldn’t point out France on a map, nor name their own elected federal representatives, to whom they’ve actually granted power that might effect change.

No, it’s only a matter of time, probably just days, before these same folks forget about France or terrorism and go back to forwarding stupid animal videos, or posting far right-or-left wing political and religious propaganda.  Of course, these things are also without real meaning.

If people want to do something using social media that might actually make a difference to reduce terrorism, or to support the ideals of liberty and a free society like France, they needn't waste time updating a Facebook profile picture.  Instead, use the time on social media (or elsewhere) to learn more about the geo-political, scientific, and especially religious issues at the root of domestic and international conflicts and terrorism.  Or learn the names of elected officials.  You can even learn where France is.

Support and resolution requires understanding.  It does not require an updated Facebook image.  If this is too much work for Facebook users, well, just keep posting those hilarious animal videos!