Alex Bramwell
Over recent years, Twitter has gone from a celebrity-chasing app to an important political tool which can be an instrument of real change.
With global events ranging from police brutality to rape going unreported, Twitter has been used to spread news and bring people to account.
From a myriad of important causes and news, we chose the 14 most crucial of the year.
The Most Important Twitter Hashtags Of 2014
#Ferguson(01 of14)
Civil disorder began in Ferguson, Missouri the day after a white police officer fatally shot Michael Brown, an 18-year-old African American.
Despite looting, protests, rioting and the militarisation of the police, there was very little media coverage of the events, causing Twitter to be the main way for activists within Ferguson to get the news out.
The sky above the city was even declared a no-fly zone to keep news helicopters away from the area, meaning residents had to use social media to tell the world what was going on. (credit:AP)
Despite looting, protests, rioting and the militarisation of the police, there was very little media coverage of the events, causing Twitter to be the main way for activists within Ferguson to get the news out.
The sky above the city was even declared a no-fly zone to keep news helicopters away from the area, meaning residents had to use social media to tell the world what was going on. (credit:AP)
#HerNameWasReeva(02 of14)
Domestic violence activists used this hashtag to point the public view away from the showbiz aspect of Oscar Pistorius' trial and towards what really mattered.
Much of the media coverage at the time was focused on the fact that Pistorius was an Olympian, with very little mention of the fact that he had killed his wife in an act of domestic violence.
#HerNameWasReeva sought to highlight the highly prevalent issue for a worldwide audience. (credit:Themba Hadebe/AP)
Much of the media coverage at the time was focused on the fact that Pistorius was an Olympian, with very little mention of the fact that he had killed his wife in an act of domestic violence.
#HerNameWasReeva sought to highlight the highly prevalent issue for a worldwide audience. (credit:Themba Hadebe/AP)
#GamerGate(03 of14)
Beginning in August, the gamergate scandal brought to light many issues with misogyny in the video game industry.
The gaming community was turned on its head when the scandal brought highly prevalent sexism, anti-feminism and misogyny into the public eye.
Outspoken women in the community were forced to flee their homes when personal information was released, and many received threats of death and rape.
The popularity of the hashtag allowed female members of the video game journalism industry to tell their stories and source support, hopefully bringing in a new era of respect and understanding. (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The gaming community was turned on its head when the scandal brought highly prevalent sexism, anti-feminism and misogyny into the public eye.
Outspoken women in the community were forced to flee their homes when personal information was released, and many received threats of death and rape.
The popularity of the hashtag allowed female members of the video game journalism industry to tell their stories and source support, hopefully bringing in a new era of respect and understanding. (credit:Boston Globe via Getty Images)
#BeenRapedNeverReported(04 of14)
People used this hashtag to share harrowing stories of sexual assault and the reasons why they never reported the crime to the police.
It highlighted institutional victim blaming, societal ignorance, and many other key issues facing victims of rape.
It also encouraged many people who had never spoken out before to join the fight for greater understanding. (credit:Twitter)
It highlighted institutional victim blaming, societal ignorance, and many other key issues facing victims of rape.
It also encouraged many people who had never spoken out before to join the fight for greater understanding. (credit:Twitter)
#IllRideWithYou(05 of14)
This hashtag went viral amid an armed hostage situation in a busy area of Sydney, Australia.
It was used to show solidarity with Muslims who feared hate crimes following the events.
The gunman was a Muslim who hung a shahada in the window of a café where he was holding people hostage, leading many Australian Muslims to worry about leaving their homes. Some Muslim women even resorted to removing their hijab to avoid religious persecution.
Australians would tweet the hashtag offering people in their area the chance to ride public transport together and fight unfair persecution. (credit:Kristen Boschma/Twitter)
It was used to show solidarity with Muslims who feared hate crimes following the events.
The gunman was a Muslim who hung a shahada in the window of a café where he was holding people hostage, leading many Australian Muslims to worry about leaving their homes. Some Muslim women even resorted to removing their hijab to avoid religious persecution.
Australians would tweet the hashtag offering people in their area the chance to ride public transport together and fight unfair persecution. (credit:Kristen Boschma/Twitter)
#ICantBreathe(06 of14)
In December, unarmed tobacco salesman Eric Garner was put in a chokehold by a member of the NYPD, and later died.
Video footage of the harrowing event added to the online storm surrounding the events occurring in Ferguson, prompting #WeCantBreathe protests across the globe, and a substantial debate about the perceived value of black lives in the United States.
The hashtags have been used to show overwhelming support and spread the story of this shocking case of police brutality against an unarmed man.
Many celebrities have also joined in the show of support, including the LA Lakers. (credit:Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Video footage of the harrowing event added to the online storm surrounding the events occurring in Ferguson, prompting #WeCantBreathe protests across the globe, and a substantial debate about the perceived value of black lives in the United States.
The hashtags have been used to show overwhelming support and spread the story of this shocking case of police brutality against an unarmed man.
Many celebrities have also joined in the show of support, including the LA Lakers. (credit:Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
#CameronMustGo(07 of14)
This anti-David Cameron hashtag was trending for an unprecedented amount of time, with Twitter users sharing their distaste for the current government.
The virality encouraged a large proportion of the UK population to engage in politics and circulate facts and figures, pushing a greater level of nationwide involvement. (credit:Lefteris Pitarakis/PA Wire)
The virality encouraged a large proportion of the UK population to engage in politics and circulate facts and figures, pushing a greater level of nationwide involvement. (credit:Lefteris Pitarakis/PA Wire)
#FreeTheNipple(08 of14)
Free The Nipple began as a campaign against Instagram's censorship, and ballooned into an equality movement covering the globe.
The campaign highlights the fact that women are not allowed to be topless while men are able to removes their shirts freely.
Activists also advocate a greater acceptance of public breastfeeding and a more equal system of censorship on social media. (credit:John Lamparski/Getty Images)
The campaign highlights the fact that women are not allowed to be topless while men are able to removes their shirts freely.
Activists also advocate a greater acceptance of public breastfeeding and a more equal system of censorship on social media. (credit:John Lamparski/Getty Images)
#WorldCup(09 of14)
Although mostly flooded by scores and dodgy banter, the World Cup 2014 hashtags allowed messages from poverty campaigners and protesters to break through into the global view.
A large number of football fans use Twitter while they watch games, which allowed knowledge of the Brazilian plight to reach a larger audience.
Pictures from the favelas and videos from protests dotted the football hashtag streams, allowing a greater coverage for the cause. (credit:Silvia Izquierdo/AP)
A large number of football fans use Twitter while they watch games, which allowed knowledge of the Brazilian plight to reach a larger audience.
Pictures from the favelas and videos from protests dotted the football hashtag streams, allowing a greater coverage for the cause. (credit:Silvia Izquierdo/AP)
#indyref(10 of14)
Scotland's long awaited independence referendum brought with it a national debate about the way the UK is run and discussion about further devolution.
The widely popular social media campaign arguably encouraged more people to go to the polls, with 84.59% of eligible voters turning out. (credit:AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
The widely popular social media campaign arguably encouraged more people to go to the polls, with 84.59% of eligible voters turning out. (credit:AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
#IamJada(11 of14)
Jada was drugged, undressed and raped at her friend's house, and pictures from the crime later appeared on social media.
Many people shared and replicated the photos, humiliating her publicly and making jokes about her sexual assault.
This prompted people to tweet pictures of themselves raising a fist against the careless people who considered Jada's rape to be a joke. (credit:Twitter)
Many people shared and replicated the photos, humiliating her publicly and making jokes about her sexual assault.
This prompted people to tweet pictures of themselves raising a fist against the careless people who considered Jada's rape to be a joke. (credit:Twitter)
#BringBackOurGirls(12 of14)
Celebrities and politicians used this hashtag when Nigerian militants Boko Haram kidnapped 276 schoolgirls in April.
Figures such as Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama showed their support for the social media campaign, with some urging government/military action to get the girls back. (credit:BERNDVONJUTRCZENKA/dpa)
Figures such as Malala Yousafzai and Michelle Obama showed their support for the social media campaign, with some urging government/military action to get the girls back. (credit:BERNDVONJUTRCZENKA/dpa)
#HeForShe(13 of14)
HeForShe is a campaign which aims to remind the world that womens' rights aren't just a womens' issue - they're a human issue.
Launched by Emma Watson at the UN, HeForShe encouraged men to stand up for womens' rights and gained worldwide support. (credit:TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Launched by Emma Watson at the UN, HeForShe encouraged men to stand up for womens' rights and gained worldwide support. (credit:TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
#YesAllWomen(14 of14)
In response to #NotAllMen, this hashtag had an unprecedented level of virality and sought to highlight cases of socially-accepted misogyny and sexism.
#NotAllMen was a well meaning hashtag which hoped to highlight the fact that not all men are misogynists, however #YesAllWomen was created to point out the fact that all women are affected by sexism regardless.
Purveyors of this campaign suggested that men should spend less time defending themselves against feminism and more time confronting other men who are misogynists.
This is another instance of Twitter being an excellent tool for activism and increasing the scale of debate. (credit:Twitter)
#NotAllMen was a well meaning hashtag which hoped to highlight the fact that not all men are misogynists, however #YesAllWomen was created to point out the fact that all women are affected by sexism regardless.
Purveyors of this campaign suggested that men should spend less time defending themselves against feminism and more time confronting other men who are misogynists.
This is another instance of Twitter being an excellent tool for activism and increasing the scale of debate. (credit:Twitter)