Slacktivism (n.) – actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement, e.g., signing an online petition or joining a campaign group on a social media website
As more blatant incidents of injustice have come along over the past couple of years, we have seen most of them documented through several outlets. Many advocates of social change watch or read the news on their television or on their favorite news application in order to stay current on any updates regarding recent incidents. However, it is needless to say that most of the information that we receive when following the events on these recent incidents of killing and police brutality has come through social media. Hashtags and viral videos have spread all over social media, which has caused some useful information to spread faster. While many people appreciate the use of social media to spread social awareness, is it truly effective when it comes to making social change – or is it simply slacktivism?
Many social activists use social media and technology to keep people updated on important information and to gather others that are interested in participating in the cause. The entire purpose of social media is to stay connected with one another. So why shouldn’t you use it to connect to like-minded people? There is power in numbers, and many activists have used social media in order to increase those numbers for protests, rallies, and fundraising, along with other things. DeRay McKesson, someone who has recently been recognized as one of the most influential organizers for activism against police brutality, discusses how effective social media can be. http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/0...
“Missouri would have convinced you that we did not exist if it were not for social media. The intensity with which they responded to protestors very early — we were able to document that and share it quickly with people in a way that we never could have without social media. We were able to tell our own stories.”
In the most recent case of police brutality involving Sandra Bland, we have seen how different information and notions have soared across social media. Unedited videos of the horrific incident have gone viral on Twitter and Facebook. Many people that were not aware of the details of what occurred that day have learned about them through social media. Hashtags like #SayHerName, #BlackLivesMatter and #WhatHappenedToSandraBland have helped facilitate discussions on what could have possibly happened to this young woman, who was also a social activist.
McKesson, along with other advocates, believes that the system would say that we are complacent with the events that are happening if it were not for the use of social media. Because of it, there is documentation of the people’s feelings, reactions, and plans that are related to the issue of police brutality. However, it is important to realize that most leaders of social activism do not only use social media as a means of protesting, but are also involved in physical protests to have their voices heard.
In a recent article on social media activism, Shonda Rhimes' comments on “Hashtag activism" were discussed. http://www.buzzfeed.com/krystieyandoli/do-hashtags...
“Hashtags are very pretty on Twitter," Rhimes stated. "I love them. I will hashtag myself into next week. But a hashtag is not a movement. A hashtag does not make you Dr. King. A hashtag does not change anything. It’s a hashtag. It’s you, sitting on your butt, typing into your computer and then going back to binge-watching your favorite show.”
While many may not agree with this statement in its entirety, the idea behind it is certainly an idea that we should take into consideration. While hashtags, photos, viral videos, and blog posts are all substantial means of spreading information and expression, we must not be complacent with only that. In order to truly make a difference, millennials must make these hashtags have meaning, which means that we must actively get involved in the movement. Let's not be satisfied with slacktivism, but take steps for true activism as well.
