Social Media and Social Justice: QOTD (Quote of the Day)

No shortage of quotable material from the Rev. Carol Howard (@CarolHoward), author of Tribal Church and Reframing Hope, and columnist for The Christian Century. Her latest essay, "Social Media and Social Change," challenges church social media enthusiasts to consider one downside of these swift, immediate media: faddism. Click here for the entire post. Here's what grabbed my full attention:


Social media can reduce activism to a fad-- something that we take part in because a particular Twitter hashtag is trending, a video has become viral, or a Facebook Cause has become popular. It can ignore the hard work that has been taking place over decades and discount a long-term strategy that a community might have. . . .  As Christians who strive for social justice, we know that we need the fast and furious exposure that social media can bring. But we also need the long-term, careful work that takes decades.

─  Carol Howard Merritt