Slacktivism is negatively affecting activism

C/O Sara Kurfess

Why we need to stop relying on social media to address injustices 

By: Ana Mamula, Contributor

cw: abuse, violence, death, suicide

Growing up in the age of social media, the way we receive and react to social injustices has changed immensely. We have the privilege of receiving news minutes after its occurrence, have many forms of information right at the tip of our fingers and can show our friends these injustices so that we educate those around us.

Although these aspects may all seem beneficial for society at the surface, there are still many things we lack when it comes to social media and social injustices. Today, due to the quick and easy nature by which posts can be made, seen or shown, we tend to have the same mindset when it comes to dealing with social injustices online. Our society sees a like on a post, a tweet or using a trending hashtag as the fix to social injustice. 

Our society feels as though they are genuinely helping the issue at hand and that they can simply pat themselves on the back for doing something that takes a second. Yet, in reality, it truly does not do much, especially in the long run. And that is why this generation is full of “Slacktivists.”

Slacktivism is working to achieve political or social change by using the internet to carry out actions that require little effort or time.

With regards to issues faced by the Indigenous community, they are either not recognized at all and if they are, Slacktivists merely like or repost the post that discusses the issue and carry on. 

We have forgotten what activism truly is. It requires us to be diligent and concerted in our efforts — not just clicking on our mouse.

If our society keeps thinking that a like or a post is going to solve the whole issue, this will only make it so much more acceptable for future injustices and future generations to take performative action. Although posting about an issue and sharing it brings some benefits, it does not truly aid the situation as a whole. Moreover, individuals may think that is all they can do.

By limiting our activism to reposting hashtags like #prayforparis and #blm, we are effectively teaching our society that these injustices are just trends. 

This summer, hundreds of remains of children who attended residential schools in Canada were found. Even as an individual born and raised in Canada, I did not learn about residential schools until grade six and rarely, if ever, did I see it spoken about in the media. This summer was the first time I personally saw society recognizing the traumas the Indigenous community faced and continue to face, with respect to residential schools.

I fell in love with Shina’s videos as she broke down the stereotypes and sugar coated information the media has taught all of us. It was a surprise to me to read the comments and see how some were trying to argue with her and her beliefs, as well as being shocked by the information she would share about her culture.

There are many stereotypes surrounding Indigenous folks in our society, thus showing how our society and mainstream media ignore their struggles. Today, Indigenous communities and individuals still face countless injustices. 

We need to do better and be better. We need to educate ourselves and others, listen, share, be supportive and speak out against a government that does not care. We need to do more than like a post or retweet and we need to stop believing everything we see online is true. We need to stop believing the media is going to change and solve everything. It is only us who can do it.