MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENTS - A Humble Opinion

To identify an issue within Catalonia, I took it upon myself to research, contextualise and utilise online search engines. Googling in short. "Catalonia social issues" was my search of choice.

Of course, we have to acknowledge that no matter the season nor location, there is always an issue to be addressed and multiple ways to amplify them. This can be done through television news broadcasts, journalism or simply through social media, just to name a few.

person scrolling through digital news | Photo by: charlesdeluvio | Source: Unsplash

Social media, although designed for a different purpose, is a strong source for news amongst young people. There are many things happening in the world and social media can offer a perspectival view of the real deal. It’s internationally used, and platform giants such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok etc., allows for easy access to information. Current, verifiable and easy-to-digest information at that.

To help identify an issue, the social media algorithm suggests that the more posts surfacing and being shared, the more traction a topic gets.

Issues such as the human rights violations and COVID-19 related poverty, are still prevalent in Spain and Catalonia today. Their presence in the digital scene goes a long way for social awareness.

People raising hands, Igualada, Catalonia | Photo by: Michał Parzuchowski | Source: Unsplash

As a young university student who volunteers for a mental health organisation, I can empathise with what’s going on in Catalonia. Staying curious, present and informed can help contribute to meaningful discussions. Meaningful discussions with like minded people can turn conversations into opportunities for collaboration.

Working on skills such as effective communication, organisational, interpersonal, and basic respect would all be of help for meaningful engagements.