Social media plays a huge role in todays society. We are often found hooked on to apps such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook etc. for hours on end. Social media is another form of finding out the latest news all around the country. Instagram influencers also play a huge role in todays generation. Everyone searches to find the latest gossip on all social media platforms. Mila (MILOORS/INSTAGRAM) has sparked a national debate.
A young girl, aged 16, had recently posted her thoughts of Islam on Instagram live broadcast. The teen, from France, quoted that Islam is a “religion of hate”. Also stating “”I am not racist. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you’re not going to make me regret it” she said, before using stronger words to attack Islam. Her words have caused chaos as she is currently receiving death threats and has even been unable to attend school since.
The newspaper article had been released on February the 4th 2020. After trying to research her account, it is still confirmed as de activated.
The police had also investigated the crime committed. But have since dropped the hate speech case as they found that Mila had ‘voiced her opinion’ and not targeted certain individuals. – Many would see her comments as unfair, a personal attack and considered as racial abuse to the Islamic religion. But she has not been punished for her opinion, merely because she was “voicing her opinion”. Surely, a 16 year old, would have been taught how to behave in such a way towards other groups of religion. It is todays generation that sparks racialism. The way a child is brought up and is taught plays a huge role. The question is where did her ‘opinion’ arise from? what makes her think the way she does? So who is really to blame? Her parents? Schools? The Media?
Mila had later appeared on the TMC channel where she had apologised for upsetting those who practise their religion in ‘peace’. Although, she did in fact go on to defend her remarks and stated “I have absolutely no regrets for what I said, it was really my thought”.
Councils, ministers and even the national rally leader had been involved in this debate. This has clarified the powers of social media. Her opinion has even lead to protests in France that had first begun from the debate about Muslim women being unable to wear a veil. The fact that her opinion had gone viral clarifies the huge influence social media has on individuals. Some had also defended her right to attack Islam. This clearly shows that even in 2020 there is still a segregation towards religions and the question is whether we as a society will ever solve these issues of on-going racial attacks towards religious groups…