A dance troop visually displays their protest with #yosoy132

Standing for something is one thing but acting on it is a whole different challenge.

I’m not one to argue that technology and social media have created a media overload, but with the same power it has to clutter our computer screens, it can easily be used to generate ideas.

For instance, prior to Mexico’s July 1 presidential election, a viral campaign was sparked after angry Iberoamerican University students protested candidate Enrique Peña Nieto’s campaign stop at the campus. After news outlets reported that the protest was staged by organized “thugs,” what was meant to be a single protest against the candidate’s governing past evolved into a movement that still garners support today.

A student protester prior to a march

Students angered by the reports took to their webcams and with their student IDs in hand, made it clear that their voices must be heard. 131 Youtube videos later, #YoSoy132  (I am 132) was created. Soon after, the hashtag-ready movement made its rounds in the Twitterverse and the rest was viral history.

Demonstrations against the status-quo-heavy PRI (political party) first hit Mexico city and since then Monterrey, Guadalajara, Tijuana, Durango, Zacatecas and Veracruz are among the various cities in Mexico with supporters. On an international level, Chicago, Barcelona, Madrid, San Francisco and Washington, DC have seen demonstrations.

Even though the initial election’s results weren’t necessarily in #YoSoy132’s favor, the movement is moving forward and has set out political strategies that would shift changes in Mexico.

Older generations acknowledge their political past and stand with Mexico’s current youth movement

– Juan Frausto
(Photo credit: Trevor Snapp)