Where to begin?
1. The nature of the issue is not what makes a post performative or not, it’s the intentions of the person posting. Some people love the sound of their own voice, and that applies digitally too.
2. The term MSM is such a red flag for me. The media are absolutely covering what’s happening in Gaza. The BBC have a correspondent living in Gaza, literally reporting on his own family’s experience. They are also doing a lot of very valuable fact checking on BBC Verify. Now no single organisation is perfect, but I’d rather get my news from journalists who put their reputations on the line than clips from ransoms on the internet.
3. Much of what’s floating around on social media is wrong, misleading and designed to insight people and double down their prejudices - this is true on both sides. There have been examples of people sharing clips from other conflicts claiming it’s from Gaza. I saw one yesterday of Richard Boyd Barrett speaking in the dail claiming it was Irelands Prime Minister speaking on behalf our our entire country. In the grand scheme of things, that’s not the worst, but it’s a clear example of how truth is often the first casualty of war. Theres simply to verification, and no consequences for those who are deliberately spreading misinformation.
It only serves to polarise opinions and make things worse. A few huns sharing links to UNICEF doesn’t counteract all the harm that social media does. Also, as many posters have already said, Rosemary could simply have posted the charity link without her ill informed commentary.
