With the world reeling from several global tragedies and people taking to social media to express their disbelief, support, solidarity, sympathy and myriad other emotions and sentiments, the phrase ‘do you boo boo’ has never echoed more loudly.

Whether you decide to change your profile picture to the French flag overlay OR not…

Whether you are using the hashtag #PrayforSyria OR not…

Whether you decide to write a blog post, article or post OR stay silent…

… whatever you feel in your heart is a good response to the atrocities is the right response for you.

It pains me to see people being called out for being ‘keyboard activists’ or less politically aware – in all honesty I had not heard about the Beirut bombings until today, so wouldn’t the courteous thing be to give each other the time to catch up on recent events, allow each other the time to become more politically aware before you name and shame.

One tragic event does not trump another. May I remind people of earlier this year when the media were trying to pit people against each other by pitting Charlie Hebdo against the Nigeria bombings.  This is a common media tactic following tragedies and a trap we mustn’t fall into as supposed ‘politically aware’ citizens.

Social media is incredibly powerful and valuable: just take the ‘safe notifications’, for example – but even people had something negative to say about that.

Let us not channel our energy, our efforts and our voices into negativity but into support and solidarity. Let your friend express their anguish, let them share their opinion and be grateful that you have the right to do so too.

Overwhelmingly, the support and unity that has come out of these global atrocities, the political debate and discussions, has been powerful and profound whether exactly correct or only shared between friends over a cuppa. Talking about these events, what they mean and how they affect us all is important and is a spring board for change.

But ultimately let us remember that this isn’t really about us, it is about the victims, their families and those directly affected. Let’s show our support for them and let each one of us do that in whatever manner we feel appropriate.