Final answer:
Negative campaigning is often used on social media to start heated discussions, which can shift the focus from ideas to personal attacks. Such tactics are part of the broader role of social media in facilitating social movements and political expression through digital activism and hashtag campaigns like #MeToo and Black Lives Matter.
Step-by-step explanation:
Negative campaigning is a popular trend in striking a heated discussion with someone else on social media. This strategy often involves attacking the individual personally, instead of pointing out problems with the idea or suggestion. It's a way that individuals participate in rhetoric and navigate the rhetorical situation within social media circles.
Social media platforms have been instrumental in advancing social and political movements. For example, movements such as #MeToo and Black Lives Matter gained prominence partly through what is referred to as "hashtag activism." Also, individuals have used social media to incite change and fight for causes they believe in, such as the gender-neutral Easy-Bake Oven campaign by McKenna Pope.
As these examples suggest, social media is not just for connecting with others but has become a powerful tool for social change, allowing users to engage in digital activism and discourse. Whether it involves starting a new trend, creating a movement, or engaging in negative campaigning, social media offers a platform for expressing and exchanging diverse viewpoints.