Is Clicktivism Really Activism?

By: Megan Hartwick

Image via Dave Dugdale (flickr)

clicktivism:�the use of online media to

advance a cause

Image via Patrick (flickr)

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Clicktivism can be an effective form of activism, as long as it is used in an effective way, such as pairing it with offline activism

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*52% of us go online to discuss what's on our minds�*This number is 71% among millennials

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Non-profit organizations find social media effective because creating multiple points of contact creates more opportunities for people to encounter their message.

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The general public's opinion of clicktivism varies based on

their age Image via Pixabay

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"Many older activists dismiss millennials as slackavists for

their preference towards digital advocacy rather than

hitting the pavement.”� -Larissa Faw

Image via Wikimedia

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2 out of 3 millennials believe a person on a computer

spreading the word can create more change than someone

physically protesting

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This discrepancy has more to do with interpretation of social

engagement than with superior activism tactics

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Millennials are journey-focused and more concerned with expressing their voices

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The older generation is focused on a material end result

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Many view clicktivism as a derogatory word, but it shouldn't be this way.

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“In this digital age, people power is strong and far-reaching, tackling

everything from international political issues to local economic ones,

environmental concerns to social injustices” �

-Alex White

Image via DG EMPL(flickr)

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We can show our support through the click of a button, without having

to take part in chaotic protests or demonstrations.

Image via Pixabay

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* "What the [ALS] ice bucket challenge is showing us is just

what clicktivism can accomplish.”�

-Ritu Sharma

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Online petitions can reach and alert tens of thousands

of worldwide

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A petition, "coupled with offline actions, media and grassroots

activism, a petition can bring new voices into a campaign and help

push direct action.”� -Garth Moore

Image via Justin Norman (flickr)

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Despite its success, clicktivism still has many critics

Image via hobvias sudoneighm (flickr)

Critics say that "social media makes it all too easy to appear

engaged in important issues without taking any real

action”� -Caryl Stern

Image via Wikimedia

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“Lesser people are known to follow up the cause they have “liked” on Facebook than to

follow it up in the real world.”� -Heeba Din

Image via Pexels

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Likes and shares can spread information, but never seen as

an outcome in themselves.

Image via Pexels

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The amount of social media users, and therefore the

number of clicktivists, is only going to increase.

Image via Pexels

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As of 2013, more than 1.73 billion people were using social

media. ���

By 2017, this number will reach 2.55 billion.

Image via Wikimedia

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“A tweet by itself is just a tweet, but a thousand tweets

are a song.”� -Garth Moore

Image via mkhmarketing (flickr)

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So, clicktivism, can make a difference.  

Work Cited 1.  Kielburger, Craig, and Marc Kielburger. "A Click Is Not Enough to Have Impact on World." Canoe.com.

N.p., 10 Apr. 2015. Web. 4 June 2015. 2.  Stern, Caryl M. "In Praise of Clitivism." Huffington Post. N.p., 31 Mar. 2015. Web. 4 June 2015. 3.  Adhikari, Abhay, Dr. "How Charities Can Use Social Media for Digital Campaigning." The Guardian. N.p.,

5 Apr. 2012. Web. 4 June 2015. 4.  Faw, Larissa. "Are Millennials Lazy Or Avant-Garde Social Activists?" Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 23 Oct.

2012. Web. 4 June 2015. 5.  Sharma, Ritu. "Stop Pouring Ice on Clicktivism." The Huffington Post. N.p., 20 Aug. 2014. Web. 4 June

2015. 6.  White, Alex. "Activism or “Slacktivism”? Are We a Nation of Online Slackers?" AlexWhite.org. 17 Aug.

2014. Web. 4 June 2015. 7.  Moore, Garth. "When Clicking Counts: In Defense of Slacktivism and Clicktivism." One. One.org, 3 May

2012. Web. 4 June 2015. 8.  Flaim, Javier. "The Grey Area of Clicktivism." Huffington Post. N.p., 26 Nov. 2013. Web. 4 June 2015. 9.  Din, Heeba. "We Need To Go Beyond 'Clicktivism' If We Really Care About The Issues We Talk About."

Youth Ki Awaaz. N.p., 16 July 2014. Web. 4 June 2015. 10.  Pantsdown, Pauline. ”The Year of Successful ‘Clicktivism’." Star Observer. N.p., 16 Dec. 2014. Web. 4

June 2015.