Fighting for a Cause With “It Gets Better”

The ‘It Gets Better’ Project, started by Dan Savage in September of 2010, is a tour de force in the power of social media to spread and to support a dedicated cause.  ‘It Gets Better’ began as a response to gay teenagers who were bullied for being gay, and worse, who committed suicide under the pressure of bullying and fear.  The core message came from gay adults who shared one simple message: “It gets better, so don’t give up.”  What’s remarkable about this project is how quickly it has grown and how widely the message has been spread through social media.  The initial videos encouraged more and more people to share their own stories and words of encouragement.  Notable celebrities and employees from companies such as Google, Apple, Pixar, and Facebook have also shared and uploaded videos that prompted a widespread “sharing spree” across all social media channels.  As the cause gained traction, the number of videos being uploaded by people all around the world has grown exponentially – to the point where they exceeded the maximum number of videos allotted to one YouTube channel.  ‘It Gets Better’ is a remarkable example of the ways in which social media has the ability to spread an inspiring cause that reaches out to LGBT youth who may otherwise feel marginalized or completely alone in the world.  As long as they have access to the Internet, they will be able to hear this simple message – you are not alone, it really does get better.