A few days ago, my mindless phone scroll logged me into the livestream of a “micro-influencer,” whose content I’ve fervently engaged with for some time. The comment thread was filled with the rapid fire questions regarding his general content niche (career and lifestyle) accompanied by predictable answers. Amidst these regularities was one user’s bold, un-algorithmic remark: “Can you speak on what is happening in Gaza?”
I’ve viewed all sides of the discourse regarding media personalities speaking on politics, and frankly, the argument that “influencers are simply not qualified enough” is purposefully missing the point. It relies on people’s obstinance to change their minds and exploits the alternate side’s well-placed frustration.
It is not that we expect influencers to comprehend the ins and outs of a 76-year global Conflict, it is that they have the responsibility as human beings—just as everyone else does—to denounce inhumane efforts. I eagerly awaited the creator’s response to the comment, but I was disappointed.
I recall something along the lines of a defensively toned, “This is not what my page is about, stop pressuring me to speak on it.” Here lies the rookie tactic of progressive obstruction that rules our inner communities: the right to comfort even at a marginal expense. We dismiss family or friends when attempting to discuss anything outside the bounds of our self-important western ideals with phrases like “This is not the place/time”. My question to the avoidant dinner-table guests is if not now, when is the place? When is the time? Because the Israeli Defense Force is not lingering on the West Bank waiting for a green light.
Another account decided to back the original commenter through the comment section and was met by an increased passive-aggressive tone from the creator, voicing that he is uneducated on the conflict. Whenever I hear this point, I’m reluctant to issue a rebuttal in a fear of being perceived as intolerant or narrow-minded, but why do we not prioritize our education of humanitarian crises? I decided to leave a comment of my own.
“No one is expecting you to know it all but it would be nice to use your platform to bring awareness to a genocide.” I’m sort of embarrassed to be quarreling in social media comments, and it’s easy to lose the importance of benevolent discussion to our egos in this way. The term “chronically online” (“someone who spends so much time on the internet that their perspective on life is skewed or overly extreme.” Wiki How) has been popularized to the point where any internet discourse, even when productive, is commonly cast aside as cringeworthy or out of touch. This is despite the internet being notably the most efficient way to share information with large groups of people.
As you may guess, my contribution was far from pleasantly received. The influencer spewed a few of the same vague bullet points while maintaining his hostile tone, a kind of, “how dare you bring that off-putting subject to the cushy bubble of my mundane live stream?” I’ve recognized this talking point used frequently regarding the Palestinian conflict, this nature of ostracizing those who advocate for foreign affairs as reckless, presumptuous, misguided; ‘calm down it’s not our problem.’
My personal take is most Americans who don’t care about what is happening in Gaza simply won’t ever, until maybe it’s untouched history that they can discuss lightly with no pressure to seriously confront their own morals or actions. To those of you (us), who while fighting feel perceived as a burden to those around us, here are the facts: 25,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 7th, 40% of whom are children. Your voice is shattering cruelty. Continue to be a “nuisance” at the hands of injustice. Continue to disrupt the beneficiaries. Continue to provoke the comfortable.
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