This inquiry examines how social media has become a powerful tool for modern youth activism, focusing on the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Students will analyze how platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok amplify voices, mobilize protests, and inspire global action against racial injustice and police brutality. By comparing the role of photographs in historical movements like Bloody Sunday or the Children’s March to the use of hashtags, viral videos, and digital campaigns today, students will explore the compelling question: How can social media be a call to action? Through this investigation, students will reflect on how young people continue to lead change, using technology to challenge inequities and advocate for justice.
Login to add Inquiry to Stack
About the inquiry
Compelling Question
How can social media be a call to action?
Standards
D2.His.6.9-12. Analyze the ways in which the perspectives of those writing history shaped the history that they produced.
Instructional Snapshot
The class begins with students reading a text on Black Lives Matter and applying the Sentence, Phrase, Word strategy to identify key ideas. They then analyze social media data, discussing demographics, hashtag impact, and platform differences, and connect these insights back to themes in the text. In groups, students synthesize their findings, make predictions about social media’s role in activism, and present their top three conclusions to the class. (For more download the Word or PDF version)
Formative Tasks
COLLABORATE: In small groups, students discuss observations, compare insights, and share their top three findings with the class.
DELIBERATE: In group and class discussions, students reflect on the role of social media in activism and its future impact.
PRODUCE: Students independently analyze the text and data, identifying trends and synthesizing group insights.
Sources
Source A: Black Lives Matter (BLM), Library of Congress Source Set B: #BlackLivesMatter usage, Pew Research Source Set C: Ten years of #BlackLivesMatter on Twitter, Pew Research (*Optional/additional data)
Summative Performance Task
No data found.
Taking Informed Action
No data found.