For the last two weeks of HBO’s flagship Sunday night banger, Game of Thrones (aka the best show on television), #ThronesYall has topped the list of trending hashtags on the timeline.

The process of Black Twitter’s live tweeting is probably the most interactive way that we, as people, have used the digital space to collectively watch television. As a group, we watch, react and enjoy our favorite shows, with meritocracy in place to allow the best jokes, perspectives, etc. to rise to the top. But no matter what, the point is that we’re all in one place adding a dimension of value to the show’s consumption experience that would not be there otherwise.

As with anything that becomes popular on the Internet, users on the other side of the glass decide that the rest of the world needs to become aware of this amazing phenomenon. Unfortunately, this often happens without research or the understanding that comes from actually being a practitioner in the space. Instead of holding the journalist accountable, the misplacement of credit (which was quickly corrected) started an ugly Twitter beef about hashtag ownership that devolved into misogyny, misplaced anger and other brands of ridiculousness.

But we’re not in the negativity business.

The most important thing to highlight in the aftermath of this situation is the resilience of the community.

When it became clear that the previous hashtag we used for Game of Thrones was no longer an option, by process of committee, we found a new one.

Credit goes where credit is due.

However, the real power is in the community. People make the hashtag, the hashtag does not make the people. And like a conduit should, we’ve powered #ThronesYall without missing a beat.

This transition is a testament to the dedication that collective Black Twitter has to preserve the integrity and joy we get in the digital company of likeminded individuals. We stick together. We support our own. And that’s the real beauty of community on the Internet.

With that said, R.I.P. to the homie Hodor. Welcome back Uncle Benjen. High Sparrow dirty Bernie cannot be trusted. A girl does have a name and Daenerys Stormborn is the goat.

*Drops mic*

Photo: Giphy
Photo: Giphy

What do you think about Black Twitter’s switch to #ThronesYall? Let us know in the comments.


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