To not get the point of “Blackout Tuesday”?

[SachaStark]

Morning.

Just been on my Instagram, and it appears that a load of the (white) interior and beauty “influencers” I follow are posting an all-black square on their feed, and tagging it as BLM and Blackout Tuesday.

So, essentially, they’re going silent on their social media accounts all day, other than this image, to support the BLM movement.

I really don’t get it. Surely, this is not the time for silence? Surely, as white people with significant platforms, they should be USING their voices to amplify black voices to show solidarity?

AIBU to think that this is a poor show of support by social media influencers?

They're just showing solidarity.

I think people are too quick to criticise. They're not drowning out the conversation. It's still going strong.

It is, in another way a peaceful protest. One mainly to get black voices heard and to show the world that everyone is standing in solidarity for an issue that should affect everyone, however it isn't being used correctly by some as they are using the BLM hashtag instead of blackout Tuesday, which is unfortunately not showing the main issue at hand.

So please if you are posting your black pictures and making a stand against racism, can you make sure both yourself and all those that you see posting use the hashtag #blackouttuesday and not #blacklives matter its very important.
Thank you.

I don't use instagram anymore but don't understand how this idea works with its algorithms.

I understand that doing something in solidarity can get attention & open up discussion/debate. However for some is it anything more than a tick box exercise to post a black square today & then tmw go back to a fashion haul?

@frazzledfatty I do believe some are just doing it to follow the masses and not in a good way, but something needs to be done.

I don't think this is really comparable to NHS clapping.

We might disagree on funding, and we might call our politicians hypocrites, but all politicians have had to base their campaigns around support for the NHS.

In the US Trump has openly supported unlawful violence on several occasions and is clearly trying to restrict the right to vote at the next election.

Whether you are a fan of her or not, Alison Hammond gave a very moving speech on This Morning about why blackout tuesday means a lot to her. For most people, the black squares are about showing support and standing together. But if you'd rather not do it then no worries but let people make their own minds up and dont accuse them of just attention seeking.

I knew someone would complain on here.

I don't think this is really comparable to NHS clapping.

It is if you think that NHS clapping is merely a figleaf to try to balance decades of contrary behaviour.

It's a really, really good idea not to store flammable material near open flames and much preferable to then clapping the firefighters who risk life and limb tackling subsequent blazes.

As a society, we've all taken the easy option at every possible opportunity, and no amount of clapping or blackouts can go back and change that, as Omar Khayyam noted.

Instagram is self-curated. Its algorithm will prioritise the accounts that you interact with the most. Unfollow the accounts that you feel are virtue-signalling.

One of my friends who is VERY into this kind of thing (equal rights, gender equality etc) has managed to post at least twice since updating her status to a black circle!! So that's going well......

Utterly pointless virtue signalling. Then again I hate Instagram

These are very shallow people who make a huge amount of money in a very shallow industry. Of course their response is shallow and it's a waste of energy to be disappointed in them. It would be like being disappointed in Take A Break magazine for not covering the G7.

www.instagram.com/tv/CA6Vt9IBfY4/?igshid=rljomyj3kjw0

This is why the black squares should only be used with the #blackouttuesday should be used, so these videos get through on the #blacklivesmatter hashtag its thought provoking.

Whether you are a fan of her or not, Alison Hammond gave a very moving speech on This Morning about why blackout tuesday means a lot to her. For most people, the black squares are about showing support and standing together. But if you'd rather not do it then no worries but let people make their own minds up and dont accuse them of just attention seeking.

I do wonder how many people who see it as pointless, or as virtue signalling are black, or how many are just making assumptions about others feel.

The media like to report on Instagram and other social media, MN posts get pulled by newspapers fairly frequently. I think this will build awareness among people who wouldn't normally be watching or reading news etc. Yes it's better to find an avenue to HELP but most of us are not sure HOW and doing nothing is worse than doing something no matter how simple/shallow/virtue signally

As a black person I've found it comforting that racism is finally being acknowledged by White people. It must be really nice to have the privilege for your life to be such that this seems like pointless virtue signalling to you.

AHH dammit you beat me to it, came on just to post the exact same thing.

It's bullshit. All it does is stop information getting to people. Especially when they post the black picture and hashtag it. If you look at the hashtag it is full of thousands of black boxes, whereas before it was full of information about what was going on.

@notyourmumma absolutely something should be done. I just question some of the motives, particularly of the bigger accounts.

I think my issue is do some influencers think posting a black image means job done. Or are they actually looking at the real issues

I do wonder how many people who see it as pointless, or as virtue signalling are black, or how many are just making assumptions about others feel.

I’m mixed race and have encountered more than my share of racism over the years and I think a lot of them are jumping on the band wagon and virtue signalling.

Just don't post. Seems like virtue signalling to me.

I don’t really understand it either. I’ve just seen DP has posted something (not about this) on his business account and I was about to message him to say he might not want to post today. But then he’s black so is that okay?

The people I know posting black squares are doing it out of solidarity with the Black community and to protest the murder of George Floyd by a police officer.

That’s it. People don’t want to be silent and complicit but actively anti racist. Yes we are doing this online, because it is more visible and direct than going into the streets.

It’s not about you or your comfort or opinions. If you “don’t get it” educate yourself. Don’t be cynical and say “oh they’re just virtue signalling” like you think a mass acknowledgment that a policeman murdering an innocent man is wrong is a virtue instead of the most basic standard of expectation??? You are not coming off well here.

A good first step for Britain would be to appoint a non-racist PM, rather than people of the caliber of Bojo the Racist Clown.
“Watermelon smiles”.
“Flag waving Piccaninnies”