Researches from Georgia Tech University performed a broad study of the social media habits of Black Lives Matter activists found, among other patterns, that language used by activists and protesters on social media immediately leading up to Black Lives Matter protests and events was very positive. This was the case even though language discussing heavy topics like violence and death were used to discuss the same issues in the days leading up to events.
Specifically, the study, titled "Social Media Participation in an Activist Movement for Racial Equality," found that while sadness would remain highly expressed on social media leading up to and during protest events, feelings of anger and anxiety were less present. In a statement released by Georgia Tech, study co-author Benjamin Sugar, who is a master's student at the university, said,
We saw more sadness but lower anger and anxiety the day before protests. It doesn’t mean they weren’t angry or anxious. But in 140 characters, people showed thoughts of moving forward and making a difference
Researches examined tweets that surrounded four significant events that lead to action from Black Lives Matter activists: the death of Michael Brown in 2014, the non-indictment of Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in 2014, protests and the fatal shooting of two New York City police officers in 2014, and Freddie Gray's death while he was held in police custody in Baltimore in 2015.
The study also noted that the Black Lives Matter movement is unique among other movements that were born on social media. In Georgia Tech's press release, Georgia Tech Ph.D. student Shagun Jhaver and another co-author of the study said,
Other hashtags [sic] movements have helped spread awareness about important issues, but many of them quickly lose their momentum. The Black Lives Matter movement realizes it’s part of a long-term social transformation and shows continual engagement. And it continues despite having no formal hierarchal [sic] structure.
Unlike other movements with a large social media presence, a large percentage of people who used a Black Lives Matter hashtag for a first time participated in the hashtag again: 36 percent.
Georgia Tech University did not immediately reply to Complex's request for commen
