By: Syann Engelhard –

You can’t turn a blind eye to incessant violence occurring on this planet daily. However, that seems to be exactly what we’re doing. We find solace in the fact that we can issue our condolences with a swift message tagged with “#PrayFor (insert latest natural disaster or attack here)”, and in the time it takes to type a tweet or put a filter on our profile picture – we’ve made our difference.

However, in actuality, we as people have the power to intercede with the government to advocate for our cause. This is not the waiting game.

On Oct. 1, 2017, 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on a crowd of over 22,000, killing 58, and injuring 527. Although the motive isn’t yet known, this event was majorly publicized in most countries as the largest mass shooting in United States history. The awareness raised was majorly due in part to widespread sharing on social media. Users took to Twitter and other platforms to express their outrage and issue condolences to those affected. Through this publication via social media, users can stay aware and up to date on all that’s happening on the global scale, as well as partake in discussion.

Junior Helen Howard relies heavily on social media in order to stay up to date on current events and social issues.

“I wouldn’t know about any social issues if I didn’t go online. Social media keeps me aware on what’s going on and what actions I can take to help my community,” said Howard. “These actions taken depend on the person and the demographic you look at. I feel like a lot of us are very aware but we just don’t do as much as we could.”

As more information was gathered, hashtags sprung up – as they usually do –  #PrayForVegas & #PrayForTheWorld being the main contributors. Within these hashtags, thousands of discussions from people all across the globe began. Due majorly in part to said discussions, topics such as gun control and the NRA were brought to the table.

However, though discussion topics are determined, not very many users actually contributing are adamant to the idea of action. This in turn creates a stalemate between those who want to take action, those who are there for the discussion, and those who are opposed to said action.

For Senior Grace Pilker, a simple post via social media isn’t quite enough.

“We have to get past posting a picture on instagram with the caption like #PrayForParis, because that was the thing after the Paris shooting. We can’t just like expect that to make the change, it’s important to go out and contribute, step out of your comfort zone.”

This stalemate has been a reoccurring theme throughout mass publicized tragedies. Similar discussions took place following the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on Dec. 14, 2012, yet no legislations were passed in congress. Though there were those adamant on action, there still wasn’t enough. This begs the question as to why more Americans, specifically, aren’t taking action or striving to take action?

“I think it’d be great to get people out and [get] involved,” said Howard. “There are a lot of social groups that you can join so that you can be aware of events like that happening and a lot of people, me included, don’t always take advantage of that. Everyone is very busy, but it’s always important to do what you can, for example calling your representatives, but some people are really secluded and don’t feel like that’s their place. We really have to get out of our own heads and comfort zones in order to actually make a difference.”

For Pilker, she believes the idea of action is all in the eye of the beholder.

“In every generation there’s people who act and there’s people who don’t. Even in Lincoln we have a lot of marches and a lot of people willing to offer support and take action,” said Pilker. “But some people just sit at home and figure if others are doing it then they don’t have to.”

Howard believes it’s also important to not solely focus on events only occurring in European countries or the United States.

“So many events get spotlighted through hashtags that are all American and European centric, people die in Palestine and Israel every day but no one talks about it, and I feel like that’s very hypocritical as well, you should be giving equal attention to all issues because it highlights some of the wrong things.”

Taking action is a key piece in our future and it’s important to step out of our comfort zone to do what we can.

“Social media is where I hear about most of the things, it’s the quickest way to spread news. And it’s very valuable in the sense that it provides the foundation for spreading awareness as well as ways to take action,” said Pilker. “It’s important to know how to use it to it’s full advantage so we can take proper action in this world.”