Author Spotlight
Phoebe Hendon
As millions practice social distancing amid the spread of the coronavirus, social media has emerged as an optimistic reinforcement of community, combatting feelings of uncertainty and unease for East students in the midst of a global pandemic.
With over 368 cases of the virus in Kansas, Kansas City mayor Quinton Lucas announced a 30-day stay-at-home order — meaning people must stay in their homes except for activities “essential to health and safety” — starting March 24. Cut off from access to typical pastimes, communities have been forced to find ways to stay busy while maintaining a positive mindset.
One of the ways East students are killing time is by taking part in Instagram challenge tags, which began to circulate shortly into spring break. People post pictures of themselves on their stories after being “nominated” by friends, and then tag others to do the same. #PositivityTag, #DrawACarrot and #StayAtHomeChallenge have all been popular as people encourage their friends to carry on the challenges, serving as a break from the constant exposure to upsetting news and statistics on their feeds.
Senior Lucy Smith was tagged by a family friend who shared a picture of their dog, asking others to do the same. Smith thought the idea was fun — something to take peoples’ minds off the virus — and shared her dog on her story, hoping to keep the chain going.
“I think a lot of people think they’re annoying, but I don’t mind them at all,” Smith said. “I think it’s kind of a distraction from what’s been going on. Everybody’s on their phones and social media because they have nothing else to do, and it’s something to think about other than what’s going on.”
While news channels such as MSNBC, Fox News and CNN have been covering COVID-19 for weeks, on Twitter, people around the world have been sharing uplifting videos of communities coming together instead of increasing death toll numbers and confirmed cases.
When Italy was first quarantined after a mass influx of cases, videos of Italians gathered on the balconies of their homes, singing and dancing together, went viral on Twitter and Instagram, with viewers praising them for making the best of an otherwise difficult circumstance.
Alex Frigerio, who lives in Rome and graduated with East’s class of 2019 as an exchange student, has been staying strong for his community by playing music on his rooftop every night. He claims that even in these difficult times, the city “has never been more alive.” Frigerio, along with his friends, has been using social media to raise money for the research center of the Spallanzani hospital, which is currently working towards a cure for the coronavirus.
“With some friends, I started a fundraiser on Instagram, and up to 4,500 people have donated money. We also started a challenge to help the fundraiser,” Frigerio said in an email. “Everyone has to post a story with their friends with #sostengoroma — that means ‘I support Rome’ — and tag the Instagram page @associata_roma, where in the bio they can find the link to donate money.”
Both abroad and at home, health professionals have stressed the cruciality of social distancing and self-isolation for those sick and returning from travel. However, the lack of regular social interaction — as well as general fear and anxiety surrounding the pandemic — can take a negative toll on mental health, according to the World Health Organization. Research from the Center for Disease Control shows being cut off from friends while simultaneously being consumed by constantly-developing coronavirus news can lead to feeling hopeless and overwhelmed.
To combat this helplessness, Instagram accounts such as @feminist, @sh*tyoushouldcareabout and even Michelle Obama have been using the platform to share optimistic updates about the virus and information on how to cope with stress. Junior Henry De Coursey shared a post by @earth on his Instagram story about “staying positive in the wake of coronavirus uncertainty.”
“My friend Sonny posted [the post] on his Instagram story, and at the time I was really stressed out about everything that was going on and I felt really alone and lost,” De Coursey said. “I figured if his post made me feel so grounded and calm that maybe I could spread that to other people.”
Dr. Joshua A. Gordon, director of the National Institute of Mental Health, emphasized in a statement the importance of “connecting with our friends and loved ones” during the pandemic to cope with anxiety and distress, whether it be through “high tech means or through simple phone calls.”
Social media is dominated by news and statistics about the virus, but it is also a powerful tool to use to stay connected with those in your circle, according to both the CDC and Dr. Gordon. The viral videos, tags and positive updates are ways to lessen anxiety and ease tensions during isolation. Even @sme_office, East’s Instagram account, has been sharing uplifting posts nearly every day, with messages like “you are not alone in this” and “it’s gonna be O.K.”
“It’s a good distraction and a little reminder that this isn’t the best time, but there are better times coming,” Smith said.
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