Why Not Them?

 I admire the power of social media to spread news around the world in a matter of seconds. Especially, during terrorist attacks. However, I do not like or feel that is fair to leave out those attacks that impact “less important” countries.

While the Paris attacks were happening the night of November 13, 2015. Millions of people used Twitter as a news source. My personal feed was filled with information about what was happening and where were the attacks located. In addition, Twitter released information numbers and Facebook created “checkpoints” to make sure everyone harmed by the attacks was located. It was admirable. I saw it as the world coming together through social media to confront the people of IS with the hashtags #JesuisParis and #PrayforParis.

Following the Paris attacks, social media news broke out about terrorist attacks in Kenya.  IS bombed Garissa University back on April 3^rd and none of the information about the terrorist action happening was released. No one created a #PrayforKenya hashtag and Twitter was not flooded with rescue numbers or information about the attacks itself. All the “rush” happened after the Paris attacks. According to the BBC, “the story attracted 10 million page views over two days-or about four times as many as it did when the attack actually happened”. To me, this data shows how we tend to spread the word about events and news if the place is “closer” to us. In other words, if we have visited the country we tend to feel closer or have more sympathy towards the events happening in those areas.

A similar approach was taken during this week terrorist attacks in Belgium and Pakistan. On March 22, the Islamic State bombed the Brussels airport and one of the trains at  “rush hour”time. Hashtags saying #PrayforBelgium, aid numbers, and constant information about the situation of the attacks was provided. The BBC states, “Tuesday’s terrorism attacks in Brussels were met almost immediately with outpourings of emotion and displays of solidarity online”. Once again, people spread the news virally and showed their concern with the “Capital of Europe”.

On Sunday March 28 IS bombed a park in Lahore, Pakistan killing more than 60 people and hurting around 300 civilians. Facebook had to apologize because they did not made a “checkpoint” for the people of Pakistan. So what does this biased view about terrorist attack show us?

 In my opinion I think that is a matter of idolization. Paris and Belgium are attractive cities for the public. On the other hand, there is a less likelihood that people have visit Pakistan or Kenya. If we really want to raise awareness about terrorist attacks and maintain people informed, I believe that we should do so in an equal manner. No matter the city or country a terrorist attack impacts everyone. So why not use social media to raise equal awareness?