Final answer:
The statement that the Black Lives Matter movement uses social media to protect themselves from abuse and surveillance is false; social media is primarily a platform for organization and message dissemination.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Bijan Stephen's "Get Up, Stand Up," it is false that members of the Black Lives Matter movement use social media because it protects them from abuse and surveillance. Instead, social media serves as a vital platform for organizing and disseminating the message of the movement. The Black Lives Matter movement has harnessed the power of social media to organize marches, protests, and to communicate not only with each other but also with elected officials, making it markedly different from earlier civil rights movements that were organized through institutions such as African American churches.
Social media, in modern times, is reshaping the tactics and reach of social movements, providing a space for activists to share their messages widely and rally support. It plays a crucial role in spreading awareness and connecting individuals across geographical boundaries, thereby amplifying the voices of movements like Black Lives Matter. While there are potential risks associated with online activism, such as surveillance, the primary purpose of using social media in these contexts is to organize and amplify the movement's causes.