Outraged: Why Everyone Is Shouting But No One Is Talking - Book Review

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Outraged. Social media is a breeding ground for anyone who is angry and wants the world to be angry with them. It's the place where people are yelling and shouting about everything (and I mean everything), making it difficult to get worked up about anything. Before you've even hopped out of bed, a quick glance at your social media accounts will have you diving back under the covers with outrage fatigue. Take #dogslivesmatter , #veganslivesmatter , #alllivesmatter , spreading quicker than coronavirus, diluting the important cause of #blacklivesmatter . Then there was Jamie Oliver's #culturalappropriation when he created his #jerkrice dish, upsetting one or two people and, zillions of shares and hashtags later, Jamie's cancelled. It's exhausting and we get to the point where we #cantbearsed .

Outrage has an important role to play with its ability to drive change. Look at how purposeful outrage and effective activism have challenged slavery, the right of women to vote, civil rights, apartheid, environment and so much more. But with reposts and retweets replacing pickets and protests, we've become lazy and lacking in courage. We're shouting and #hashtagging our way through life, and we've become deafened to our most pressing issues. It's created a network of "pseudo-activists" who are so intent on promoting a self-serving image of morality that they jump on the bandwagon of any cause that might make them look ethical, compassionate or intellectual. It's as easy as engaging in a few social media battles each week to prove you are pro- or anti-whatever. It enables instant validation and applause from your entire social network and, often, allows you to stand with the mob without actually contributing to, or even understanding, the "cause" you're supporting.

In her book Outraged: Why Everyone Is Shouting But No One Is Talking, author and broadcaster Ashley "Dotty" Charles explores modern outrage and the part social media plays in this space. It's an important book to read and reflect on. We are at a cross-roads and risk losing sight of the important issues, falling victim to groupthink in place of solidarity. Through social media, we're told to jump on, sign the petition and prove that we're either for or against. Charles refers to it at "clicktivism: it wants to be activism, but it just can't be arsed".

If you're going to be outraged, make sure you do it with a determination that extends beyond your own social media reputation and mob mentality. Do it in a way that doesn't desensitise a whole generation to feel outrage against big issues of our time. Charles writes that "We don't need to care less. We just need to care better. Because if we pursued severe social injustices as fervently as we did every insignificant faux pas that wafts under our noses, our communities would be far better places".

Social media feeds have turned into places of rage, hate and opinion. Charles has experienced both sides – hate or be hated, support or be silenced. This book explores different perspectives and looks at those who have been outraged, suffered at the hands of it and those who have been cancelled or orchestrated a cancelling. She's written it because she believes in outrage's ability to drive change if applied wisely and not on a whim.

Charles has conducted extensive research into the psychology of social media and our hunger for feedback, validation and reputational rewards, as well as sentiment towards rage. Her findings are fascinating. Her commentary on recent cases of public online outrage, cancelling, shaming and bullying provides sobering reading and demonstrates how one #hashtag can make or break a cause, or a soul destroy.

Social media is here to stay and worthwhile causes will continue to exist. Social media has the potential to be a strong platform to support activism and drive change but we need to stop and think before posting, sharing, reposting, retweeting, signing petitions without knowing what and who is behind them and #hashtagging each and every wrong that we think needs righted. If real change is to happen, we need to get up off the lounge and truly invest in what we stand for, as well as accepting that not everyone will agree with what we say. That's also diversity and inclusion.

This book is an essential guide to living through the age of outrage and is strongly recommended for teenagers and adults alike.

Outraged: Why Everyone Is Shouting But No One Is Talking by Ashley "Dotty" Charles
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: HB: 978-1-5266-0503-0

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