Josina De Raadt
Josina De Raadt graduated from Dordt College in 2013 with a major in history. In 2012 she was a Millennial Values Fellow in conjunction with the Berkley Center's project on young Americans, faith, and values.
Josina De Raadt (Dordt) on How Social Media Is Like Wii Bowling
By: Josina De Raadt
October 31, 2012
I rock at Wii bowling. With a skillful flick of the wrist, I can send that digital bowling ball on its way to a perfect game. However, in real life even my four-year-old cousin can beat me by a hundred points––without bumpers.
For Millennials, being politically active online is a little bit like Wii bowling. Now, don’t get me wrong.Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Tumblr are great ways of getting the message out there. With the right blend of witty and moving, you can make the perfect viral video to bring your passion to the people. Or, you can make a thought-provoking meme if videos aren’t your schtick. On the more serious side, polls have shown that just putting “I voted” as your status can encourage your friends to vote.
For the most part, though, if you are never willing to take the political action offline, that viral video or popular meme will only be a little more useful than a perfect Wii bowling score. Consider the case of Svante Myrick, the mayor of Ithaca, New York, who became governor at age of twenty-four. He deftly used social media to reach the college population of Ithaca. His campaign probably got plenty of retweets and likes on his Facebook page. There is a big difference, though, between a quick retweet and the long trek between a cozy college dorm and the voting booth. The vast majority of Myrick’s votes did not come from the college sector of the city’s population. Clearly, online support does not translate directly into offline support.
In order to make a difference in this year’s election, Millennials need to shut their laptops, walk out the door, and head to the nearest voting booth. Tweeting who you support is not a substitute for casting your vote. This type of action does not end after election day either. If you are passionate about helping the poor or animal rights, you need to volunteer at the local soup kitchen or animal shelter. To make a real difference in the world requires more time than the couple of seconds it takes to press the "Like" button for your favorite cause’s page. So, take a deep breath and walk out into the big, wide, offline world.
For the most part, though, if you are never willing to take the political action offline, that viral video or popular meme will only be a little more useful than a perfect Wii bowling score. Consider the case of Svante Myrick, the mayor of Ithaca, New York, who became governor at age of twenty-four. He deftly used social media to reach the college population of Ithaca. His campaign probably got plenty of retweets and likes on his Facebook page. There is a big difference, though, between a quick retweet and the long trek between a cozy college dorm and the voting booth. The vast majority of Myrick’s votes did not come from the college sector of the city’s population. Clearly, online support does not translate directly into offline support.
In order to make a difference in this year’s election, Millennials need to shut their laptops, walk out the door, and head to the nearest voting booth. Tweeting who you support is not a substitute for casting your vote. This type of action does not end after election day either. If you are passionate about helping the poor or animal rights, you need to volunteer at the local soup kitchen or animal shelter. To make a real difference in the world requires more time than the couple of seconds it takes to press the "Like" button for your favorite cause’s page. So, take a deep breath and walk out into the big, wide, offline world.
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