The negative side of social networks is notable. In recent years, studies and analyses have let us know the impact that these platforms can have on our minds; these digital creations are addictive and can lead us to distort reality, causing anxiety, stress and depression. However, not everything is negative.
Depending on the way we use these apps, they can help us and help others. This is what a group of celebrities have done, as they understand that they can direct their spotlights towards good causes. Being a public personality gives them advantages when it comes to gaining followers, likes and comments. They have made every action count.
Although it is often thought that the world of celebrities is full of glamor all day long, the truth is they also have real lives outside of film sets, stages and the red carpet. While the social networks of many actors and musicians show only their beautiful and superficial side, those who bet on activism take it a step further, making users’ scrolling meaningful.
Fighting for social justice
One of the actresses recognized worldwide for her activism is Angelina Jolie. She has dedicated herself to fighting for humanitarian causes around the world, is a fervent advocate for refugees and displaced persons, manages multi-purpose projects in Cambodia and Ethiopia, fights for children’s rights, is a UN special envoy and has pressed for laws on gender-based violence.
The actress’s social networks are a reflection of her efforts. There, she shares photographs with other activists who also fight against inequality and discrimination, offers information on free courses, reports on the book she wrote in collaboration with human rights activists, and provides information on displaced people from countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, Venezuela, Myanmar and Sudan.
Emma Watson is another actress who, from a young age, has focused part of her life on defending the rights of women and girls around the world. The UN goodwill ambassador is involved in projects that promote the education of girls in disadvantaged countries. On her social networks she also provides information on climate change, gender equality and social justice.
Environmental causes
Leonardo DiCaprio is a good example of using social media for environmental activism. The actor promotes different initiatives that confront the climate crisis, and for this work he was named messenger of the United Nations for climate change.
Through his foundation, DiCaprio takes actions that try to balance the role of human beings on the planet through the protection of wildlife, oceans and indigenous rights. On his social networks, he denounces man-made ecological disasters, but also applauds projects that are protecting the planet.
Promoting education and reading at all levels
Although Reese Witherspoon, Shakira and Jennifer Garner do not use their posts exclusively to promote social causes, they are some of the public figures who most share information about their humanitarian work.
Reese Witherspoon has a book club, which she promotes through her personal social networks. There, she encourages her followers to read a large number of books per year. One of the important points of her project is that these books have women at the center of the story, which inspires her female followers.
Meanwhile Jennifer Garner, in addition to uploading a lot of interesting and funny videos, shares her work for Save the Children, which helps promote education in young people. Garner, also performs live on Instagram to share information about meditation as a method to help calm the mind and reduce anxiety.
Shakira publicizes the progress she has made through her foundation Pies Descalzos, which supports education in Colombia. She bets on free, quality education, which she credits for opening doors and building dreams. On her social networks, she proudly shares school graduations and all the progress they have made in almost 30 years of social work.
They are not the only ones with social media accounts revealing the many faces of the world. Others who make their audience think with deeper content are Mark Ruffalo, Jane Fonda, Sharon Stone, Chris Evans and Selena Gomez. They support voices that have been systematically silenced for years, and help people reflect on their role in society.
Image credit: Karsten Winegeart