Can Social Media actually make a difference?

You may think that social media’s best attributes are sharing game invites to friends, and connecting with your long-lost childhood friend. That may be true, but it also has a plethora of resources for raising awareness. The ability to post, like, and share has allowed many organizations to get their messages across. The more people that hear about Misophonia, the greater chance that doctors and researchers will learn about it.

Social media is an amazingly powerful platform. Anybody, anywhere, at any time, can connect and share a vision and an idea. It is easy to spread awareness and content with people whom you may never have met without social media. Through Twitter, Google +, and Facebook you can reach a wider audience and ensure that the message of Misophonia gets out there.

Does “Hashtag Advocacy” work?

Yes and no. As stated here, “The key to ensuring that hashtag advocacy is successful in implementing serious change is increasing one’s personal involvement and understanding. Once the movement is based on solid information, it can continue to adapt and do good work. Hashtag advocacy has its place, but there needs to be more — more education, more involvement, more empathy. For lasting change to occur, the public needs lasting, educated movements.” That’s why we need to ensure that our campaign is honest, compelling, and focuses on research and real change.

Should the campaign focus entirely on Social Media?

That depends what you’re comfortable with. Like the above quote, it’s very important to help your inner circle understand the issues. Each person that is armed with knowledge and understanding is helping to advocate for the disorder. The following are ways to help (outside of social media)

Your Community

You may be surprised to learn that your own community holds opportunities to raise awareness. You can ask to set up an information booth at several functions, whether they are BBQs, advocacy events, or merely community parties. You can raise a lot of awareness by having pamphlets, posters, and other items to promote awareness.

Friends and Family

Your friends and family can provide a great backdrop for explaining your disorder. Remember that each person you tell will be able to tell another, and then another. Simply explaining Misophonia to others can be both cathartic and a way to spread awareness.

Your School/Workplace

Like the sources mentioned above, you may be surprised at the awareness you can spread just by talking to your workmates/classmates, and other professionals. These people may also have great resources that you can take advantage of. This provides a wonderful opportunity for networking. Besides, you never know what somebody will be working on down the road, and how you can be mutually beneficial.

I’m afraid my friends/family will judge me for my disorder if I share posts.

Sometimes honesty can be scary. That’s what this campaign is for. Stigma can only be removed through education. Ignoring the problem isn’t going to make it go away.

Sharing tweets, facebook posts, and other media can be a great way to get every one involved. We will be supporting the hashtag campaign:

#MisophoniaMatters #Misophonia

Please follow our social media profiles and help spread the message!

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.”

― William Arthur Ward