Thanks to social media, we can now reach more people, more quickly. In 2016, approximately 1.59 billion people used Facebook monthly, while 310 million people actively use Twitter every month. This means that simple features such as hashtags have the potential to start a global conversation. Popular hashtag campaigns can help bring significant issues onto the international stage, and recent years have seen the growth and success of cultural movements such as #WeNeedDiverseBooks, the #PinkTax and #BlackLivesMatter.
Facebook and Twitter are platforms that allow users to spread stories without the filtering of major news organizations like CBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, which can often come with preconcieved biases. However, social media also allows for the spread of articles, photos and links without any confirmation of the validity of the information, thus, creating a breeding ground for fake news to rise and thrive. Fake news is a way of spreading falsehoods, manipulating the emotions of online audiences, and in 2016, it had a significant role in the American Presidential election. The rise of fake news along with the trend of social media activism as a result of the election, has led to increasing political tension on social media. According to Time magazine, nearly 40% of people report being “worn out” by political discussions on social media, while writers like Karol Markowicz, believe that Facebook and similar platforms should be used strictly for the purpose of connecting with friends and family, not for discussing political candidates and controversial opinions.
Others believe that criticism of social media activism is a sign of complacency and privilege. According to Derek Penwell, those who complain about social media activism are usually people who “have a stake in things staying the way they are” and are “comfortably certain that nothing will (or even needs to) change enough to affect them”. For young adults, using social media in a political way increases confidence and perceptions of the likelihood of achieving their political objectives.
But what can some of the downsides to online activism be?
Mental health.
Although social media activism can unify communities and fuel the fight for justice, spending too much time engaging in online politics can have some dire consequences and take a toll on your physical and emotional health. According to psychiatrist Samantha Boardman, the fast-paced nature of online news and politics can even cause more anxiety than simply watching the news and social media users often underestimate the amount of anxiety that these platforms can cause. She warns that it is important to remain informed, but not to become overwhelmed and consumed by the information. Instead, users and activists must take breaks and make sure to engage in real-life activities, such as hobbies and continue to invest in social relationships with family and friends.
Does social media activism actually bring about any real change?
It depends.
Much of what we know as social media activism falls under the title of ‘slacktivism’, a type of activism whose only objective is to spread awareness of particular issues. While raising awareness is an important step in bringing about change, very little change actually results from the awareness that starts out of hashtag movements and other social media campaigns. According to Velasquez, there are a few movements that succeed in spurring on offline movements, but most rarely lead to true, noticeable change. Researchers at the University of British Columbia discovered that those who supported political movements more publicly on social media (ex. posting on Facebook or retweeting and liking) platforms were less likely to engage in put in the real-life forms work later on. Those who supported more privately, were more likely to remain engaged in the cause for a longer period of time.
While Facebook and Twitter are tools we can use for communication and action, we must remember that it is not the only tool. Social media can be extremely useful for spreading awareness about issues in the first place, but to create real change, it is important to actively participate offline. According to Wright, “The only way to make a democracy work is to get off social media and do things in the real world,” he said.
Some great ways to do that could be joining a political club on campus, or participating in various movements, rallies, protests or social events happening around your city, allowing you to truly see how your activisim can transform into real change.