#BLACKLIVESMATTER: The voice of the silents

#BLACKLIVESMATTER: The voice of the silents
 

The Black Lives Matter movement, an international activist movement that has generates the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, is a very popular movement, and very beneficial opportunity for public relations practitioners. The Hashtag explicitly denounces the anti-black racism that leads to discrimination of all kinds and murders. As a public relations practitioner, you must use this hashtag with great care as it raises a delicate story.

Pain and anger

The Black Lives Matter movement, followed by their hashtag, reached its peak in 2017, when a 17-year-old boy, unarmed, was shot by US white police.

Also, of the 987 people killed by the American police, nearly a quarter were black, and twelve of them were minors. You understand easily the frustration that the black people must feel.

The birth of this deep but powerful hashtag has awakened the humanism of many people around the world. Whether it's through anger, sadness or support ...

What are the advantages or disadvantages of social media for a public relations practitioner?

Advantages

             • On social web, we can reach more people. We can continually sensitize people about racism, we can reach their heart and their minds.

              • The fact that people are active on social media is beneficial, because they are reactive, and then public relations practitioners can know what they think about subjects such as the treatment of black people.

              • The key influencers makes to public relations practitioners an idea on what is followed, liked or disliked on social media. This is important to know who are the major actors of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Disadvantages

              • Social media may be time intensive, because the public relations practitioners have to always be aware on what is said, what is thought now, how people feel about something.  For a public relations practitioners it could be tiresome.

              • Because #BlackLivesMatter is a very fragile topic, people can become unreceptive or totally agressive. Misunderstanding can easily occur and create an explosive bad buzz.

              • People are often unstoppable. Once they are engaged with a cause, it may be difficult to target them if they have an only idea on something. They may be so much touched by the anti Black racism that they can themselves become racist, unfortunately.

And the recommendations? 

I recommend to public relations practitioners to not only recognize that this hashtag supports an too often repressed community, and it is delicate as well as powerful. It permits also to reach a certain type of people, so using this hashtag could be very beneficial.

#NATURALBEAUTY: From a trend, to a strength.

#NATURALBEAUTY: From a trend, to a strength.

Inevitable whatever the nature of your project, social media creates proximity to your customers and allows to maintain a special relationship with them. The #NaturalBeauty hashtag is very popular on social networks, and therefore represents an advantage for public relations practitioners. Firstly by pure trend or mode effect if I can afford, but also because it shows the powerful expression that people can have for the natural.

#NaturalBeauty in the world

In 2016, RnB singer Alicia Keys announced to the rest of the world her decision, not without reasons, to say definitely goodbye to makeup. A big wave of young girls followed in the world, posting photos of them without any makeup, with captions followed by the hashtag #NaturalNeauty.

More recently, the #SaggyBoobsMatter, another popular hashtag relayed by women whose breasts have lost their elasticity, reminded the world that we had to love ourselves as we are, and has therefore increased the popularity of the hashtag #NaturalBeauty .

It goes without saying that the #NaturalBeauty hashtag is a boon to any business whose goal is to enhance the beauty of the natural woman.

But, what are the advantages or disadvantages of social media for a public relations practitioner?

Advantages

             • The social web is still going fast

In 2018, it is clear that the social web is growing ever more. In fact, technology makes it possible to gather more communities, so we can easily reach our audiences via #NaturalBeauty.

              • Your customers are active on social media

It must be said, most of the consumers that we are, are spending our lives on social media. We are very responsive to information, and this can be an advantage to the PRP's for the promotion of their business, through the hashtag.

              • There are keys influencers on each social network

Every public relations practioner should take it into account. On social media, targeting web influencers and celebrities, it is easier to reach a significant number of potential customers. Just take the example of Alicia Keys and the wave that followed.

Disadvantages

              • Time intensive

Social media is a real challenge as they require a lot of time. Just imagine how many people are entering and posting on Twitter. The person in charge of this must always be connected to maintain the movement.

              • Negative feedback

Not only is everything fast on social networks, but everyone is very free. So the negative comments or feedback are not to be ignored. An audience might for example take a company for a band of opportunists, not understanding the true meaning of natural beauty.

              • More demanding consumers

As much as social web is growing, consumers are always looking for more. We must always keep the pace for the company, not to lose customers. Using #NaturalBeauty is good, but you still have to know how to manage the audience.

And the recommendations? 

The world of social media is interesting, but still it is necessary to walk on tweezers because Internet users are ultra-responsive and can at any time spit something in the face. Regarding this hashtag, I think that each PRP must be aware that behind there is a girl who protests against the dictates of society.