Does Internet "Slacktivism" Hurt or Help Real Activism?

It's really nobody's business what you support, what you stand for, or for whom you vote. But for some strange reason, it's Defend Your Life on social media. All of us are expected to become fully demonstrative about our personal feelings about this cause or that cause. I know my friends are good people who "hate cancer" and are "against child abuse". I don't need them to constantly tell me what kind, caring people they are every time some poorly-Photoshopped picture of a candle gets passed around. You're not a "better" person because you continuously express shock and/or outrage at the latest tragedy. And if you feel the need to prove that you are, well...you've got more pressing issues.It's Facebook, not your therapist or diary. There's no reason anyone should feel compelled to share more than they should. But for the ones who do...there's the "delete friend" or "hide" buttons.

I find slacktivism so frustrating, often because it takes the form of trying to shame people, such as, 'if you don't repost this, you hate gay people'. I'd much rather people spent time volunteering or donating to the causes of their choice, as I do. I'd like to hear about their experiences, but I definitely don't want to to hear 'post this as your status if you're a true friend' or anything like that.

It encourages an already apathetic populace to believe they have in some way 'done their bit', and soothes consciences that may have otherwise been troubled enough to really 'help' (through donating/volunteering etc). It conditions the young and/or gullible into thinking that being emotionally coerced is acceptable. It sometimes reaches a saturation point where you don't ever want to hear another word about 'X, Y or Z'. - Personally, I can't believe it when I see grown adults sharing some stupid post about how much 'Cancer sucks etc'.

it leaves people thinking "I've done my part" so that when a real ask comes along, that might have a real impact, they can shake their head without an guilt and say "nope, I've done my part".

I think we can become over-saturated with it - to the point of tuning it out entirely (like a song played too often on the radio). So, choose wisely and genuinely care about your activist-type posts.

I never post updates like that. I have donated to a cause and then posted about the organization on occasion, such as Kiva or Donors Choose, if I think they are worthy and not enough people know about them. But never just the general "cancer is bad" posts.

I tend to dislike "activism" that doesn't promote action that can result in change...I would include most of the awareness campaigns in this category. If you believe in a cause, DO something that will have a true impact...don't do something just because it makes you feel good.

I think slacktivism is a genuine problem. It's far too easy to slap a "virtual ribbon" on your avatar and do nothing else to help those in need, or bring real social injustice to light. Of all the people who changed their avatars or posted a Facebook meme about, for example, the devastation in Japan after the 2011 earthquakes and tsunami, how many actually contributed any money to help the country rebuild? That's not to say it's wrong to write on-line about social justice issues or those in need. But if you do that and do nothing else, than you're basically doing nothing. And you could be spreading complacency in others that all they have to do is retweet your words elsewhere - let someone else take care of the hard part of actually seeing change get made.

... agree with Sanet above. if activism is quantified fundamentally as a numbers game (the more exposure any issue gets the more interested/activated participants), then why not thank the slacktivists for doing their share of the digital work instead of chastising them for doing something positive for said cause at all? (rhetorical)besides, some of you activists that like being physically present at rallies: giving 3 letter agency photo-ops; yelling slogans on tv news; getting added to fbi watch, homeland security domestic terrorist, and tsa no fly lists; are doing a fine job at it while some of us with virtual skills work in the shadow of your limelight.keep up the good work.

I think slacktivism helps. Any action is better than no action. Not everybody have the time or money to be an actual activist. At the end of the day the slacktivist still have a vote and spending power so even though they may not get away from their computers to go and do something about a cause the next time they vote or spend money they hopefully will make better informed choices. Activism is better but slacktivism is better than doing nothing.