As of October 7, 2023, international platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have been flooded with media surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. While it is worth mentioning that the vendetta between Israel and the Palestinian people has always been a controversial topic of discussion online, more and more people around the world have aligned themselves with either side of the war.
The “Secret”
Why are pro-Palestinians so persuasive? And what can we do to ensure that the voices of Jews facing antisemitism daily are heard? If we know the truth, then why do so many people still drift toward pro-Palestinian ideals?
Internet users do an exceptional job of promoting whatever cause they are a part of. This is especially true of those who take part in the “Free Palestine” movement. The movement is present on social media and in person through riots and protests. New filters, copy-paste comments, and hashtags created to provide support to Gaza have taken TikTok by storm. Numerous defenders of the movement could be seen scouring the app in hopes of leaving comments on every related video. Many celebrities have begun voicing their views on the issue to the world, resulting in massive support from both sides of the conflict.
Palestinian media appears on key platforms in a variety of ways. No single account is dedicated to the cause; rather, the movement in its entirety has banded together to gain exposure through these viral trends. Because of their strong and broad grip over the media, pro-Palestinian creators have made their mark on both Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike.
Jewish Exposure to Palestinian Media
As part of my research on the effectiveness of social media on the public’s perception of the Israel-Gaza War, I surveyed 26 people, who revealed some shocking results. While a portion of participants report seeing bits of both Israeli and Palestinian media scattered across their feeds, a little over half agree that they are exposed more to Palestinian media than to Israeli media daily on widely used apps such as Instagram and TikTok. Nearly 40% of individuals who took the survey believe they encounter pro-Israel content more frequently when on social media. It is important to note, however, the level to which Palestinian media influences our community. Our Jewish background alone can’t filter our social media exposure enough to make Palestinian content a minority in our feeds.
What WE Can Do
Among the most popular Zionist accounts on TikTok (with 614,900 followers) is the official account for the State of Israel. Before the war, the account posted both comedic and aesthetic videos about the country’s natural beauty, the Jewish holidays, Israeli life, and travel tips every few days. Upon the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza War, the account began uploading daily reports on the conflict, Israeli hostages, and worldwide movements showing support for the state. Since then, hundreds of Zionist accounts from around the world started to appear to spread the word about the conflict on TikTok and other major platforms.
Garnering support for a nation that receives so much backlash is no easy task. Our people have been persecuted, subjected to genocide, silenced, and treated as second-class citizens for thousands of years. Nowadays, with the invention of modern technology and the internet, Jewish users have been able to show the beauty of our culture to the world. With the right audience, these posts are seen and broadcasted on larger scales, showing the pride we have for our small but mighty nation. When asked, 30% of respondents from the abovementioned survey suggested spreading awareness through family and friends. Alternatively, 43% of participants believed publishing posts about Israel would work more effectively if shared with a large percentage of uninformed online users. Additional ideas listed in the survey included supporting Israeli businesses and organizations, getting into contact with Zionists from different communities, and following pro-Israel creators.
As Zionists, helping the state of Israel is our top priority. If not directly, we can assist our brothers and sisters by spreading pro-Israel information to others. The people of Israel need our help, and it is our responsibility to be there for them while enduring this war.
