Clicktivism refers to using digital media like social networks to support causes and facilitate activism. It can raise awareness, funds, and volunteers for organizations. While clicktivism spreads awareness fast, traditional actions like donating time are still invaluable. The document outlines strategies for non-profits to gain support through clicktivism, including overexposing organizations on social media, making engagement public, using compelling images, and simplifying donations. Although clicktivism faces criticism, it is making a difference when combined with real-world action.

1. Harnessing the Power of
Clicktivism
How to Gain Support for Your Organization
Online
ByBy
By Abbey Bird

2. What is Clicktivism?
"It is the use of digital media for facilitating social change and activism.
More often than not this takes the form of supporting or promoting a
cause on social media, but can include a whole range of activities." -
Clicktivist.org
Flickr Creative Commons by Frederico Sintra
(4)

3. What Does
Clicktivism Do?
1. Raise Awareness
2. Raise Funds
3. Raise Volunteers
Flickr Creative Commons by ecks ecks
(6)

4. Millennials are most
inspired to give
through social media.
It is predicted that
Gen Z will prefer
mobile apps.
Flickr Creative Commons by Didriks
(8)
(8)

5. 95% of NGOs have Facebook
83% have Twitter
40% have Instagram
These social media apps
are the best way to get
through to the youngest
generations!
Flickr Creative Commons by Sarah
(8)

6. How do we use this knowledge to
gain support for organizations?
Flickr Creative Commons by Kathryn Harper

7. 1. The Importance of Overexposure
It takes 7-8 exposures to something to
produce action.
Flickr Creative Commons Patrick
(10)

8. This exposure is the first
step on the "Engagement
Ladder."
Flickr Creative Commons by David Michalczuk
(6)

9. Liking or following an organization leads
people to support an organization in
other ways such as volunteering or
donating.
Flickr Creative Commons by thehallahblog
(7)

10. Action is the second
step on the
Engagement
Ladder...followed by
Donating and
Shopping in ways that
support a charity.
Flickr Creative Commons by Elizabeth
(6)

11. 2. Encourage the Supporter Journey
(1) Attract people to
sign up and make them
feel valued.
(2) Prompt them to take
action.
(3) Get people to become
advocates for the
organization.
Flickr Creative Commons by Unknown
(5)

12. “The advocacy step
is when a supporter
starts a chain
reaction, infecting
their network with
their commitment
to the cause.”
Flickr Creative Commons by Pimthida
(5)

13. This spreading of ideas through a chain reaction
is known as the "Ripple Effect."
Flickr Creative Commons by Ricardo Liberato
(3)

14. 3. Make Engagement Public
Millennials care what others think about them - use this
to your advantage!
Flickr Creative Commons by Duncan Rawlinson
(6)

15. Facebook uses an app called "Causes" which
allows people to showcase their involvement
with organizations as a form of personal
expression.
Flickr Creative Commons by Elmastudio
(6)

16. 4. Use compelling imagery to grab individual’s
attention and invoke an emotional response.
Flickr Creative Commons by Olly Coffey
(2)

17. As humans
we love
stories. They
cause us to
pause and
pay
attention.
Flickr Creative Commons by Penn State
(6)

18. 5. Make it Simple to Get Involved
Donating should be easy, if your page is too difficult
to navigate, people will give up and your
organization will lose support.
5. Make it Simple to Get Involved
Flickr Creative Commons by Patrick Nouhailler
(2)

19. Researchers claim
we no longer read
things in depth - we
would rather skim.
Make your organization's page
easy to skim so that
individuals can quickly obtain
necessary info.
Flickr Creative Commons by Bethany Petrik
(9)

20. Although it is facing
some criticism,
clicktivism is making
a difference.
Awareness is being
spread and funds are
being raised...fast.
Flickr Creative Commons by ZhouYaolin
(10)

21. Clicktivism is the
future of activism,
however we can’t
forget about
traditional action
when encouraging
support for
organizations.
Flickr Creative Commons by Daniel Thornton

22. A like may spread awareness, but going out
and donating time is still invaluable to
organizations in need.
Flickr Creative Commons by Albuquerque
(7)

23. “Raising awareness and taking action
are both worthy goals in themselves, but
together they are more powerful."
Flickr Creative Commons by Yoel Ben-Avraham
(1)

24. References
1. Angell, M. (2015). "Clicktivism," "Slacktivism," and the Future of Online Activism. Retrieved from
http://ugtimes.com/2015/08/featured/clicktivism-slacktivism-and-the-future-of-internet-activism/
2. Barry, F. (2017). 15 Techniques Used by Top Nonprofits to Boost Donor Acquisition and Online Fundraising
Results. Retrieved from https://npengage.com/nonprofit-fundraising/boost-donor-acquisition-online-fundraising/
3. Bresciani, S. and Schmeil, A. (2012). Social Media Platforms for Social Good. Retrieved from
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.proxy.queensu.ca/document/6227944/?section=abstract
4. Clicktivist.org. (n.d.). What is Clicktivism. Retrieved from http://www.clicktivist.org/what-is-clicktivism/
5. Latchford, T. (2012). How Charities Can Use Social Networks to Gain Engagement, Support and Action.
Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2012/jan/30/charities-use-social-
networks-engagement
6. Matrix, S. (2017). Social Good [PDF Document]. Retrieved
from https://onq.queensu.ca/d2l/le/content/117252/viewContent/937337/View
7. Kielburger, C. and Kielburger, M. (2015). Global Voices: Liking Must Be Followed Up With Real World
Action. Retrieved from http://www.timescolonist.com/life/global-voices-liking-must-be-followed-up-with-real-
world-action-1.1820728
8. n.a. (2016). 16 Must Know Stats About Online Fundraising and Social Media. Retrieved from
http://www.nptechforgood.com/2016/05/13/16-must-know-stats-about-online-fundraising-and-social-media/
9. Rosenwald, M. (2014). Serious Reading Takes a Hit from Online Scanning and Skimming, Researchers
Say. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/i.do?
id=GALE%7CA364033903&v=2.1&u=queensulaw&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&authCount=1
10. Sharma, R. (2014). Stop Pouring Ice on Clicktivism. Retrieved from
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ritusharma/stop-pouring-ice-on-click_b_5692555.html