The Power of Online Positivity

Martin Seligman, the father of Positive Psychology, emphasized the strength of social influence and how it can create meaning in life. We all need purpose. Despite its challenges, sometimes social media can help spread positive influence. Today’s GKIS article highlights some beautiful bright spots on GoFundMe and in the Twitter community. I hope you find it inspiring to join the joyful fray!

Paying it Forward: GoFundMe

GoFundMe.com is a popular website used for personal fundraising. For example, Dana Barrett’s tragic story of suffering from a traumatic spinal injury left her unable to breathe on her own. She’d already suffered a great loss with the death of both of her parents when she was only twenty-one years old. Now, after her accident, she was left struggling with quadriplegia. Dana is a loving, positive, and strong individual who is mightily loved and appreciated by her community. Her medical expenses will cost over $500,000. GoFundMe offered a platform for her loving community to come together for support. At the time of this writing, her fund was nearing $300,000 and growing!

Recent updates say that, with the support and money coming in from GoFundMe.com, Dana has been able to eat and drink on her own! She was told those goals were outside of her reach. The online community has consistently promoted events since her accident via social media, attracting the attention of singer-songwriter Gloria Estefan, comedian Amy Schumer, and actor Adrian Grenier.

The Ripple Effect

It doesn’t take a celebrity to spread generosity and joy; it can begin straight from your social media feed.

Recently I experimented with the ripple effect meaning one good deed spreads and encourages others. By offering thoughtful comments of appreciation and support on Instagram to friends and acquaintances, I let them know I read their captions and enjoyed their photos rather than mindlessly scrolling and clicking the heart eyes emoji. I took Martin Seligman’s active listening techniques and applied them to social media posts.

I saw a positive return on my posts almost immediately. I felt connected in an online world where connection is sometimes lost. Soon I started messaging people I wanted to be friends with just by watching their Instagram stories and saying something nice about the content. In a short time, I felt like I had a whole tribe of new friends eager to connect and share the joy.

Social media isn’t all about distraction. With a little bit of authentic, mindful effort, it is a tool for a fun and convenient connection.

The Positive Impact of Twitter Influencers

Twitter is, in my opinion, the fastest way to find hilarious memes, political content, and trolling. Trolling refers to the act of intentionally fighting with someone online, often in a joking manner, just to spark a reaction.

My favorite Twitter account right now is that of rapper @lilNasX. He’s used his charismatic online presence to create the longest-leading Billboard No.1 track “Old Town Road.” He takes Twitter harassment and comments from “trolls” as gracefully as anyone I’ve ever seen.

In response to his brushing a mean comment off his shoulders recently, comedian Chris D’elia tweeted, “We love you, kid.” The music industry seems to have welcomed LilNas silly endless remixes of “Old Town Road” (ft. Billy Ray Cyrus, Diplo, Young Thug & popular meme “yodeling kid” Mason, Seol Town Road K pop version, and Cupcakkke) with open arms.

In response to lilNasX’s release“C7osure (you like)” on the last day of Pride month, Twitter went wild for LilNas’s came out as a full-time African American rapper LGBTQ representative with a country NO.1 hit and a hilarious Twitter account. The LGBTQ community loved it, adopting it as a new theme song, a voice spreading positivity, energy, and love.

Thank you LilNas for your positive representation. I found it so positive and inspiring. It’s time to use social media as a tool for positivity. The first step starts with your online footprint!

I’m Kaitlin Hoover, GKIS intern. Paying it forward is a great way to feel connected to the world and finding representatives that make you laugh is a great start. Check out GKIS article Gaming Together Increases Family Bonding for more ways to incite spontaneous joy and connection!