Student Activism : Ways To Get Involved In Your Community

It's that time of the year already. The time of the year when you actually go to Target with a purpose. The time of year when you get slightly nostalgic about the warm weather, while simultaneously brainstorming this year's Halloween costumes. And of course the time of year when you go BACK TO SCHOOL.

School, whether it's high school, college, or trade school, is a community of thought and knowledge. And within that lies a rich and diverse mix of individuals who each bring their own unique culture, thoughts, traditions, perspective, and so much more to the table. At Yubo, we believe in embracing a better future and the community and environment you live in (be it in person or online). It is important to be passionate about the things you care about, and one way to express that passion in your community is through activism!

What do we mean by activism?

Activism comes in many shapes and sizes, from education to protests, all forms of activism are valuable. We’re not exclusively talking about the Greta Thunbergs of the world. You don’t need to be famous to be an activist. It could be as simple as educating yourself on a topic you knew nothing about before or by socializing with new people. As a student, there are many ways to be involved.

How do you get involved in topics you care about?

Do you know the saying, “there’s an app for that?” Well at school, there’s a club for that and if there isn’t, well, you can start a club for that. The three main focal points of student activism over the past 5 years have been Racial Equality, Politics, and Covid-19 policies/practices. If school clubs are not for you, there are still plenty of ways to be active in your community. It can be as simple as supporting local businesses or volunteering near you. There are plenty of dedicated town social media pages that list weekly and monthly events you could take part in.

What can you contribute to the community as a student?

There are many ways to do this, but the common theme among them all is turning your efforts into actions. Back in 2020, the BLM movement was heard loud and clear across almost every college campus and country. Students from across the U.S. (and world) organized protests for racial equality on campus and in their surrounding communities. Some student-led groups raised money to support local racial justice organizations, others lobbied to have building names changed or certain statues taken down. And, of course, the arts were instrumental in conveying the emotion and message behind racial equality.

Student activism is an essential representation of the youth's voice. After all, we are the ones who the world is being handed to. Student efforts extend far beyond school communities. Look at climate change conventions, like the famous COP26. Students were peacefully protesting and speaking at the convention, among members of the United Nations in hopes to enact change for a better world.That’s pretty impressive!

Younger generations view social media as an important tool to get involved with social issues. Through apps like Yubo, you can meet amazing people from all over the world and hear different points of view that you would not normally have access to. Yubo is one of the best places to hold a smooth debate! It’s a great place to educate yourself, engage in conversations, and expose yourself to viewpoints that are not local to you. Hosting a peaceful protest on campus? Post about it on social media and even live stream it to Yubo users around the world, so they can join in too!

Can you make an impact in your online community?

Activism does not only exist in the physical world. A lot of activist resources and connections are available online as well. In the recent months, the #WeStandWithUkraine hashtag blew up all across the internet. There were countless fundraisers across varying online communities that led to donations that helped the citizens of Ukraine. This was only possible through the online activism of the world and brought about real change.

Social movements translate well through social media because it’s accessible and shareable. As the world becomes more and more digital, our attention is shifting to online profiles and interactions. This is why actions as simple as putting a hashtag or emoji in your profile or adding your preferred pronouns to your bio make a difference. Did you know that on Yubo you can put tags and 5 emojis in your bio?

The internet, social media especially, has made important information available in an easily digestible medium. This can be a double edged sword, making it easier to spread misinformation. Before you potentially share false information, a quick Google search should do the trick! It has been truly exciting and humbling to see activism in action on our own platform, Yubo. It has been an honor to see people sharing tips on how to fight for racial justice, people sharing resources for pride month, the celebration of mental health, and much more!

We know you are off to school and we hope you make this semester count. In the great words of Martin Luther King Jr. “The time is always right to do right.” We are here for all of it.