A lot of activists here in the Philippines as well as those abroad are calling people who support causes by joining Internet memes or online petitions “Slacktivists“. Basically the hardcore activists feel that unless people go out and actually join them in rallies, build houses, or give money, it’s all pointless. I strongly disagree with this idea. For me it’s pretty simple. Slacktivism exists because of the lazy activists who are stuck in the 1990′s way of thinking. Let me explain further.
When people join Internet memes like the recent Facebook Cartoon Character cause it means that your message is spreading. When people click “Like” on Facebook, use a hash tag, change their profile picture, or whatever act to signify their agreement with your cause that’s never a bad thing! It’s like Seth Godin’s concept of Permission Marketing. They are open to doing stuff together with you. They give you permission to talk to them! The chances might be low but at least you get that window of opportunity to have them participate on a higher level.
I find it amazing that activists who openly call the online citizenry slackers are surprised that only a few people actually join their physical activities. Helllooooo? Why would they bother to join if you’re calling them lazy? How do you expect them to move if you junk all of the social capital of the cause by calling them names?
The problem is people who are activists are most of the time driven by their passion for their cause which sometimes blinds them from recognizing opportunity.
Instead of whining and complaining about why people aren’t actually joining your events or participating in your fund raising activities, think of ways how you can better encourage and engage your community to do so. Come up with programs that will nudge them along the value chain until they stop being passive and become active. You need to have a solid strategy and THIS WILL TAKE TIME. This won’t be overnight. You have to build social capital over several months and even years. The important thing is that they are there and they want to listen to what you have to say.
Here’s a good example. I think it was last year (or two years ago) when the Arroyo government started to float the idea of changing the Constitution via a Constitutional Assembly. People didn’t like the idea and someone started a Fan Page on Facebook. The membership grew to over 100,000 members in just a few weeks. What was disappointing in this scenario was that instead of the activists reaching out to the community they just decided to call them “Slacktivists” on traditional media (I think it was on print). That ended any possibility of cooperation.
Don’t challenge them because you’ll just scare them all away. Stop being a lazy activist and become creative and innovative. Start thinking outside the box! It’s already 2010 so start thinking like an activist in this time period and don’t get stuck in the 1990′s way of thinking.
Oh, I agree with what you’ve written here in so many levels. These activists should realize how powerful the internet and social media are now in spreading the word about their cause.
I count myself as among the “hardcore activists” in your post – I participate in direct action movements and happily call myself a “tibak” however that would sit with other people, and firmly believe that any advocacy without measurable results is pointless. However, I am also an advocate of ICT for development. I believe that trans- and social media technologies (among others) are valuable tools in empowering individuals and communities to change the world as it is towards the vision of world that they wish to see.
The problem is not with “hardcore activists” (as you put it) insisting that cyber-activism alone cannot change the world – indeed, I am not the kind of person who changes my profile picture on SNSes or “Like”-s a Facebook fanpage in support of x cause. Historically, propaganda has never stood alone in the struggle for change – propaganda was created to agitate and fuel conflict and action. “Hardcore activists” also know that the masses face significant access and control issues of ICT resources. Another point: It’s difficult to gauge how invested cyber-activists really are in an issue they themselves are not stakeholders in.
The problem is with “hardcore activists” who are not able to engage cyber-activists enough with direct action options that cyber-activists can invest themselves in, or not appropriating the message of a non-directed meme campaign (such as the recent “change your profile picture to raise awareness of violence against children”) for their own means and ends. By not recognizing the power of new media to give people a sense of empowerment (and eventually capitalize on that sensation towards direct action), agents of change lose out on a very influential and very powerful part of the population.
I believe you said something to this effect, and I agree – “hardcore activists” must translate online advocacy into concrete and realistic actions with tangible results. For further reading, I suggest reading Markos Moulitsas’ book “Taking on the System: Rules for Radical Change in a Digital Era” who tackles the best (and worst) practices in utilizing new media for social change.
I had a friend who regretted changing his profile pic to a cartoon character as he analyzed the situation. (He said, it still wasn’t helping fight child abuse.) I liked the way he framed the discussion but I also offered my own point of view regarding this.
That meme affected a lot of people in different ways and that says a lot about how powerful communication has become these days. My bottom line is, “What’s with all the nega?” Oh and…I agree with this post 100%.
I have one friend who changed his profile back and just gave 20% of his salary to World Vision. Really cool dude.
Agree with the post pointed. It’s a balancing act, methinks, on both trends and movements. Social Media creates huge opportunities for Activists, whether hardcore or not, to connect and spread ideas and have people rally in a particular cause.
I really don’t have any beef with internet meme’s and trends ( i <3 lolcatz for wut it iz), however, I am a bit uneasy with an un-cooked, half-baked campaign such as the recent Change Your Profile pic into a Cartoon. As i pointed out in my previous comment, I think that concept is good, however there was very little follow through. Nothing really did change. Sure there was awareness, particularly passive awareness, but I don't see a lot of people actively searching about Violence against Children and their prevention and such. There wasn't even a link to a site or sites to help report or monitor these cruelty.
In this sense, then yeah, I think I'll have to say that this maybe considered 'Slacktivism'. People just followed a trend with a "cause" attached to it but without really understanding and agreeing fully with said cause. It's like a pat in the back saying, yeah, I'll support you…in spirit.
In fact, if you browse through a lot of the comments, you'll see more people posting how they miss their Saturday morning cartoons and shoutouts to people who are 80's babies than actual concern over Children Abuses.
Classic case of Flashy versus Brilliance. The execution was phenomenal, but at the very heart of the matter –the place where it should hold the most weight– the material was very heavily lacking.
You nailed it with this comment Colin. If ever this was really initiated by a foundation or advocacy group it they probably didn’t think the entire strat through. You have to give them props though since the effort gave the cause a lot of awareness, haha.
Horaay Sir Carlo! I absolutely agree. You might not remember, but me and my thesis mates interviewed you for our research on online activism. ;p you did tell us about your side, and i was thrilled to read it! thank you for refreshing my mind. and oh, btw, Seth Godin is hiring, he he he.
He is? Where’s the link?? Hahaha
I was disappointed that there were no actual children’s organizations who utilized the cartoon characters campaign.
To bolster your point Carlo, here’s a link to Olivia Munn’s online campaign to remove animals in circuses THAT WORKED. http://www.peta.org/features/Olivia-Munn.aspx