My Story

Back in 2017, when I was just 13 years old as a high school sophomore, I had one of the most impactful experiences I will ever go through. Right in the middle of our usual Spanish lecture on a Tuesday, the earth started shaking out of nowhere.

In that moment, I experienced more than a million feelings, all of them ranging from fear and anxiety to uncertainty and confusion. Our Spanish professor guided us to evacuate the building. The scene of the entire school evacuating while the earth was moving, and pieces of the roof and walls were tipping off the sky.

Once we were in a secure zone, the fear and confusion could be felt in the air, a common feeling that united us in a strange way.

Little did I know, the moment of the earthquake was just the beginning of one of the biggest social crises I've experienced in my entire life.

The damages that the earthquake brought to my city and my country were severe. Buildings collapsed, schools crumbled, houses were destroyed, and lives were lost. Mexico City was in complete CHAOS.

Despite the challenges, the resilience of the people played a crucial role in overcoming the crisis. It was not easy, but technology, such as social media and the #FuerzaMexico hashtag, positively impacted the situation.

#FuerzaMexico hashtag

In a situation like this, what we need most is reliable and scalable information with the power to positively impact the situation. Social media, and more specifically hashtags, can provide us with just that.

As highlighted by Hu (2020), "What’s distinct about the current movement is not just the clarity of its messaging, but its ability to convey that message through so much noise." This underscores the significance of effective communication amid the chaos, emphasizing the power of clear messaging even in the midst of a crisis.

And as CopyPress (2013) says,

"Social media is just one tool in the marketing

 toolbox. It can be a helpful one if you know how

 to use it strategically".

The #FuerzaMexico hashtag emerged as a stronghold that made a significant positive impact on the situation. Initially used for expressions of solidarity, it evolved into a channel for organizing collection centers, donations, and much more, as highlighted by Jaramillo (2017).

The influence of hashtags is underscored by the fact that, according to Devgan (2024), "For users aged 16 to 64, the average time spent on social media is 2 hours 24 minutes per day." This statistic emphasizes the substantial impact and reach of hashtags, making them a powerful tool for mobilization and communication during critical times.

"Perhaps social networks do not isolate us, but quite the opposite. Mexico raised a fist and solidarity crystallized on social networks." (Taborga, 2017).