Social Media for Social Justice

Try this on for size: Social media, no longer just a hub for bikini pictures, mirror selfies, and stalking your exes, but a grand stage for social reform and change at the forefront of the fight for justice. In an altogether miraculous evolution, social media has become the younger generations’ battle ground, platform, and voice.

Simply scrolling through feed can now bring education, awareness, and inspiration to millions around the globe on paramount movements such as Black Lives Matter, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender equality. In a time when it is hard to understand how these social issues are not yet things of the past, spreading awareness and gaining support worldwide in a matter of minutes is the kind of urgency they deserve.

Right along with this evolution, social media has also become a center of commerce for all manner of shops and businesses, run all over the world by all manner of unique and talented humans. Combine these two things together, and you’ve got platforms that have become a formidable and extremely effective ally towards achieving social justice.

This leads me to the obsession that, over the past few years, thanks to Instagram, has left my brain incapable of stopping my fingers from clicking the dreaded and wonderful *add to cart* button again and again: purchases in which I can represent and spread awareness for the causes I am passionate about, all while helping to support them financially, and looking cute in the process. What more could a girl want?

If you’re interested in going on a shopping spree for a good cause, check out this list of items I have purchased, and loved, from the incredible social media account and clothing brand that I cannot get enough of: CHNGE.

CHNGE Clothing Brand

(Found on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter with the username @chnge)

This account is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorites. They use sustainable, carbon-neutral clothing to spread their messages about all things equality and fighting against oppression of discriminated groups, while donating a portion of their proceeds to these various causes. With 2.3 million Instagram followers, I think it’s safe to say they are definitely making a “chnge.”

Now, here are the items I have purchased from them and what I think of their products:

The ‘Teach women to be somebodies instead of somebody’s’ Shirt

I bought this shirt for myself about 6 months ago, and since then I have barely taken it off. It’s soft, comfortable, true-to-size, and most importantly, I love this message. As a woman who has too often seen men only show respect to another woman when a man shows up at her side, this shirt is everything. I feel powerful wearing it, whether I’m wearing it to hang out with friends, or simply wearing it to bed (seriously, it’s that comfortable). I don’t know what I would do without this shirt and after writing this I will probably go buy 6 more similar to it so that I have one to wear every day of the week.

The ‘BLM Action Tour Tee’

As I hope we all know, simply buying and wearing clothing adorned with the words “black lives matter” has never been, and will never be, enough to truly support the black community. We must act in the name of equality and become better allies by personally tuning in to our own minds to put in the work to be better. The reason I love this shirt is because it’s not just a face-value shirt with a slogan. It gives you real, doable steps to become a better ally and truly help support the cause in a way that will make a difference. From steps to take for immediate action to questions to ask yourself and books to read, this shirt provides more than most other items of clothing representing causes ever will. And better yet, maybe the people around you, strangers, friends, family members, will take the advice they read on your shirt and become better allies themselves.

In case you're still not convinced to go buy this shirt right now, 100% of the proceeds from your purchase goes directly to organizations such as the Equal Justice Initiative, Color of Change, The Loveland Foundation, Black Lives Matter, and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

The ‘kiss whoever the fuck you want’ Cropped Shirt

I bought this cropped T-shirt for my best friend as a coming out present, and it was the best thing I could have done. She was beyond thrilled. The shirt is true-to-size, looks absolutely amazing on her, and is made of thick, quality material, unlike many Instagram clothing shops that have popped up and support fast-fashion and very cheap material. Not to mention, it also comes in black. If you want to spread a message of love, be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, or show off part of what makes you, well, you, and look damn good doing it, this shirt is for you. With pride month quickly approaching, this one is a must-have.

CHNGE is truly a game-changer, having already donated over $300,000 to important social movements around the world. By giving in to your natural urges to buy clothes, you could contribute to the change they are creating.

This is your sign to justify spending all your money as soon as you get your next paycheck, and go on a shopping spree for a good cause.