Perhaps you’ve seen some of your friend’s profile pictures change to a wash of blue. Maybe you’ve even made your profile picture blue. I have a point to make about all of this, but first, let’s talk about why people are doing this (for those who are unaware).

Sudan is undergoing a political and humanitarian crisis. Dictator Omar al-Bashir was overthrown by citizens who no longer wanted to live in a dictatorship. Since then, those who are pro-democracy have been entangled with the military in a battle for how to proceed. Civilians organized a strike against the military for not holding up their promises to form a better government. On June 3rd, the military committed mass violence against the civilians’ peaceful protest.

Since that protest, the disturbing and vast violence by military against civilians–including rape, murder, burning bodies, urinating on bodies, dumping bodies in the the Nile river, and making people drink sewage water–has continued and the death toll escalates daily. The military has cut off internet to the entire nation. This is a tactic to keep the citizens from reporting and sharing what’s happening in their nation to the rest of the world. In order to raise awareness and stand in solidarity with the citizens of Sudan, people across social media have changed their profile picture to blue. Blue was the favorite color of Mohamed Mattar. Mattar was an activist that was shot and killed while protesting for democracy in Sudan.

WHY MAKING YOUR PROFILE PICTURE BLUE MAY NOT HELP SUDAN

Here’s the thing, though. While I applaud everyone who wants to raise awareness about the Sudan crisis, it’s not going to really help the Sudanese. If we’re being honest, it’s an easy way to get a few feel-good-about-yourself humanitarian points without having to actually exert an effort. And it’s even set the stage for accounts to claim they’re helping Sudan in order to get more followers. @SudanMealProject cropped up since the mass profile photo change, along with dozens of other accounts with similar names, falsely claiming that it would send meals to Sudan in order to obtain followers. The one post on the account claimed that it would donate a meal for every share the post got. The account gained over 400,000 followers within days. After The Atlantic reported this to Instagram, the company removed the account.

It’s also been shown in data from past social protests in this piece that although there is potential to form rapidly, in social media protests, the speed and ease with which people can join often fails to move towards an organizing capacity, primarily physically (in person), that’s large and powerful enough to challenge authority. It’s chemically built into us to feel safer and more tied together when we are physically doing something together in the same space. It also is chemically built into us and our leaders to know that there is power in the physical presence of large, organized groups.

If you really want to create change and help the people of Sudan, by all means, make your Instagram profile picture blue. But please also do some of these things:

DONATE WHAT YOU CAN

Yes, it would be lovely if a social media share would give a child a meal. But how on earth would that work if someone wasn’t donating something? UNICEF Sudan delivers vaccines, safe water, treatment for severe acute malnutrition and counseling to Sudanese children. Save The Children, which has been working in Sudan for over 30 years, helps children and their families affected by conflict, displacement, extreme poverty, hunger and a lack of basic services.

CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Call a Senator, and call that senator often to voice your concern. It’s easier than you think (here’s how). This is one of the best ways to enact real change from our politicians and government. And while you’re at it, rally your friends and family to do the same.

ORGANIZE A CHARITY EVENT OR PROTEST

Take donating to the next level by organizing a charity event to donate to one of the organizations listed above. You can also organize rallies and protests.

Much love to you all.