The Power of Social Media: A blessing or Curse?
The internet and digital technology have reshaped activism. It is much easier for people to connect with individuals supporting the same cause all over the world and mobilize groups of supporters. Information is also quickly spread with one example being the power of hashtags. These allow movements to boost their visibility across the world by trending their hashtags on social media platforms. Hashtags also allow for information to be gathered all in one location making it easier for people to learn about the cause. Digital technology also provides safety and anonymity for those with risks for speaking out. With all these advantages, it’s no wonder that the internet and digital technology are such powerful tools.
However, not every aspect of digital activism is as good as it seems. Some would say those who merely share posts or sign petitions are superficial or are “slacktivists” because they put little effort into engaging and think that will make a difference. There are also those who post just to look good to the public. Digital activism can also be counterintuitive by drowning out information and activists even when they mean well. An example of this is the #BlackoutTuesday campaign for the BLM movement. For a campaign wanting to reflect and elevate voices, it sure did the opposite. Another limitation of digital activism is information overload. With many people wanting to support a cause and spread awareness, it can overwhelm others and make it difficult to keep the public’s attention and interest when it can feel like a constant bombardment of info.
I think digital technology and the internet have brought about a new era of activism whether it does more good or bad. Personally, I don’t think superficial engagement or slacktivism are necessarily bad because they still work to spread awareness and not everyone has the time or capability to do more substantive actions. There are also some movements such as the #FreePalestine movement where those affected especially ask others to share what’s happening. I do agree that campaigns such as #BlackoutTuesday and information overload are great disadvantages to online activism, however, that doesn’t mean that digital activism movements should be discredited or taken lightly. Digital activism’s capability to make movements and information more widespread certainly outweighs the disadvantages.
References
- Das, D. (2019, August 25). Why digital feminist activism is real and valid. Feminism in India. https://feminisminindia.com/2019/08/26/digital-feminist-activism-real-and-valid/
- Madison, N., & Klang, M. (2020). The case for digital activism: Refuting the fallacies of slacktivism. Journal of Digital Social Research, 2(2), 28–47. https://doi.org/10.33621/jdsr.v2i2.25