Pros & Cons of Social Media Activism
One main benefit of social media activism is increasing this
Awareness
This platform is known for short, viral videos, often used for activism among Gen Z
TikTok
This 2014 campaign challenged people to dump ice water over their heads for charity
ALS Ice Bucket Challenge
Online activism that doesn’t require offline action is often called this
slacktivism
This movement began on Twitter and spread globally after the hashtag
#MeToo
A downside of online activism where people engage but take no real-world action is called this
slacktivism / performative activism
Activists often use this platform for threads, updates, and viral hashtags
Twitter (X)
In 2013, this viral campaign encouraged people to post black-and-white photos to raise awareness about racial injustice
#BlackoutTuesday
Sharing online content to influence others is known as this
digital advocacy
This movement started in 2013 to protest police brutality and racial injustice in the U.S
Black Lives Matter
Social media can help movements grow faster, but it can also create these, where people only hear opinions like their own
Echo Chambers
This platform is primarily visual and has been used to raise awareness through infographics and campaigns
This campaign encouraged students to strike from school to protest climate change
Fridays for Future / School Strike for Climate
A movement that spreads rapidly online because of shares, likes, or algorithms is called this
going viral
This climate activism campaign, started by a Swedish teenager, went viral among students worldwide
Fridays for Future / Greta Thunberg
When companies participate in activism online mainly for marketing, it’s often called this
causewashing / performative allyship
This platform allows longer videos and live streams, which activists use for storytelling and fundraising
Youtube
This viral hashtag campaign by Dove encouraged people to post their unedited photos to challenge beauty standards and raise self-esteem
#ReverseSelfie
Coordinating activist efforts online without central leadership is referred to as this
decentralized activism
This global campaign encouraged people to speak out against sexual harassment in workplaces using a hashtag
#TimesUp
Rapidly spreading information online can lead to this major risk for activist campaigns
misinformation / loss of credibility
This social media site focuses on discussion forums and niche communities, sometimes used to organize local movements
This viral challenge encouraged people to donate to clean water initiatives and often involved filming themselves doing a physical task
Bottle Cap Challenge
The practice of calling out individuals or companies online for social or political issues is called this
cancel culture
This movement used the hashtag #IceBucketChallenge to raise awareness for a neurological disease
ALS awareness / Ice Bucket Challenge