In 2014, social media played a larger role in the fabric of our world than even before. Popular hashtags on Twitter helped spread messages of injustice, spawned national movements and helped start a conversation on some of our most sensitive issues. Hashtags had a hand in spurring change across America and worldwide.
Here's a look at some of the most influential hashtags of the year, according to CNN’s HLN:
• #BringBackOurGirls – The hashtag denounced the kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls by Islamic militants.
• #HandsUpDontShoot – The "Hands up, don't shoot" gesture and hashtag rose to popularity by the protesters in Ferguson.
• #CarryThatWeight – This hashtag emerged when Emma Sulkowicz, a Columbia University art student, vowed to carry a dorm-sized mattress everywhere until her alleged rapist is expelled from school.
• #IAmLiberianNotAVirus – This social media campaign strived to confront and stop the stigma of Ebola.
• #WhyIStayed and #WhyILeft – Motivated by the elevator footage showing former Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice punching his then-fiance, Janay Rice, survivors of domestic violence turned to Twitter and shared their own experiences.
• #ICantBreathe – This phrase became the hashtag that united the movement to end police brutality in the wake of the Eric Gardner death.
• #HeForShe – A solidarity movement for gender equality, the #HeForShe campaign started after Emma Watson delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations.
• #UmbrellaRevolution – Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests earned the nickname "The Umbrella Revolution," using them to defend not only against the pepper spray and tear gas, but against the heat as well.
• #YesAllWomen – In response to the University of California-Santa Barbara shooting, the #YesAllWomen allowed women to share their personal experiences of harassment, rape and entitlement.
• #CosbyMeme – A tweet from Bill Cosby's confirmed account turned into a social media storm – it included a cheerful photo of Cosby and challenged his followers to, "Go ahead. Meme me!”
• #IndyRef - This year, the people of Scotland went to the polls with the extraordinary opportunity to break from England and Wales and vote to become an independent country. Citizens on both sides of the decision used this hashtag to campaign.
• #IceBucketChallenge – This hashtag was splattered over everyone's Facebook wall, as participants in the #IceBucketChallenge poured ice water over their heads in support of ALS.
• #WorldCup - The World Cup was one of the biggest sporting events in 2014.
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