Slacktivism.
It’s the contradictory term that refers to the combination of…
Activism: actual movement or action with the intent to bring about a change.
And…
Slacking: avoiding work at all costs, normally alone on one’s couch.
So ”slacktivism” is the catchy new phenomena particularly popular among young people that my favorite hometown newspaper addressed last week. Apparently, slacktivism is a growing trend where people think and act like they are making a change in society when they really are only clicking a button on a computer.
Let me explain.
A slacktivist constantly tweets about Black History Month, yet knows nothing about it. A slacktivist sends all of their friends a chain email about presidential candidates, yet doesn’t vote in the election. A slacktivist has a breast cancer ribbon on their Facebook profile, but has never donated a dollar towards cancer research.
A slacktivist is someone who acts, and perhaps actually thinks they are involved and active in society, but really only uses Internet and social networking to forward information without taking any real action themselves. They have no knowledge of the field, maybe no real interest in it at all, but it’s easy to press “Add” or “Forward” or “Invite All” on a computer screen and feel like you are making a difference.
But you just arent’t. Sorry.
I am guilty of it too. I have the ribbon on my profile. I tweet about social problems but don’t really make an effort to make change. I’m just too selfish to do anything more, I guess. I feel like making that small effort like inviting my Facebook friends to a charity event is enough, even if I don’t attend the event myself. Deep down, I know I’m just being a slacktivist, but I do it anyway because I just think my time is worth more. My heart and head knows I’m wrong, but my weekly, hour-by-hour calendar says too bad.
Hi. My name is Kaleigh, and I’m a slacktivist.
But so are you.
The vast majority of our generation are slackivists, and as much as it’s great that anyone is taking any kind of interest in social issues, it’s time we all actually do something. Even if it’s just acknowledging that we really aren’t doing anything. Maybe if we all stop kidding ourselves then we’ll actually feel the need to change, and for real. We might not be the generation of the race marches or Woodstock or Tiananmen Square, but that doesn’t mean we can slack off.
It’s time we start doing something. Plant a tree to help the environment. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Become a Big Brother or a Big Sister. Even just donate old clothes to charity.
It might not be as easy as clicking on a Facebook link or texting in a vote, but every little thing means something. And maybe with enough people doing small things, it will all add up to something greater. If enough people get off their couches, then maybe we can start a whole new movement.
It’s time we stop being slacktivists and start being activists.
