What is Slacktivism?

Chiara Calleja
Nov 5 · 3 min read

We are a group of University students working on a project related to Digital Activism. Slacktivism- our chosen topic of discussion was a kind of digital activism that struck us the most.

Slacktivism is the term that defines the mix between activism and being a slack. Glenn stated that the term which is “a combination of the words “slacker” and “activism,” has increasingly been used to describe the disconnect between awareness and action through the use of social media” (2015). In other words, it is when one decides one day to scroll through Facebook, Instagram or twitter and likes, shares or retweets a post to show support. But is that actual support? Most of us think that by being active online, we are contributing to whatever is happening behind our screens, but are we?

What is that like or comment going to do to save a starving child or say… save the Amazon? Slacktivism “requires minimal time and effort, often without mobilisation and/or demonstrable effect in solving a social issue” (Glenn, C. 2015). Lane and Cin define slacktivism as: “a willingness to perform a relatively costless, token display of support for a social cause, with an accompanying lack of willingness to devote significant effort to enact meaningful change” (2017).

The desire of wanting to be part of something is much bigger than that. Us humans, especially the digital natives might feel the want to feel good about ourselves but trying to “pitch-in” virtually. Some think that slacktivism isn’t all bad whereas others think it’s a complete waste of time. That’s up to you to decide.

But what about the ones who aren’t as socially connected as some of us are? The older generations, our parents or siblings. What do they think of slacktivism? Do they know what it means? Our blog aims to explain what slacktivism is through current events by writing about them. Doing so will help educate non-digital natives on contemporary digital activism and present various aspects of it. Is slacktivism as “slack” as it seems? Or will today’s revolution be tweeted, hashtagged or liked?

This project is part of a University Study Unit called “Social media and 21st Century Communications”.

References:

Glenn, C. (2015). Activism or “Slacktivism?”: Digital Media and Organizing for Social Change. Communication Teacher, 29(2), 81–85.

Lane, D., & Dal Cin, S. (2018). Sharing beyond Slacktivism: The effect of socially observable prosocial media sharing on subsequent offline helping behaviour. Information, Communication & Society, 21(11), 1523–1540.

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