Slacktivism has received criticism for being ineffective, but it can also have benefits. It allows scientists to crowdfund projects that would otherwise lack resources. Online petitions and social media campaigns can raise awareness of issues and motivate more substantive support through volunteering or donations. While clicking 'like' may not solve problems, increased exposure on social media is necessary to publicize issues. Therefore, while slacktivism has limitations, it can also enable funding, mobilize grassroots support, and shed light on important causes.

1. IS SLACKTIVISM
REALLY AS BAD AS
THEY SAY IT IS?
The good and the bad of online social good.
Karen Clement

2. What is “Slacktivism”
Source: Unsplash, Pexels
Slacktivism is “the use of social media and other online
methods to promote a cause.” [3]
Some examples are:
• Organizing
protests
• Signing petitions
• Crowdfunding
• Circumventing
news blackouts
• And more [6]

3. What is “Slacktivism”
However this term has taken on a
negative connotation. But does it
really deserve this? Let’s take a
look at some examples of how
Slacktivism has earned both its
good and negative meanings.

4. SCIENTIST LOOKING
FOR FUNDING GAIN
FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

5. Science looks online
Smaller projects are sometimes unable to
gain funding from larger organizations
and a turning to crowdfunding to create
funds. [1]
Source: TBIT, Pixabay

6. Science looks online
Slacktivism allows scientists
who would otherwise be
without money to have a
healthy fund and continue their
studies and complete research.

7. Science looks online
Some may argue that this lessens the scientific rigor of
these research projects because the money is coming
from the public rather than a credible academic
organization.[2]
Source: ironposion, Flickr

8. SUPPORTING PROTESTS
WITHTHE HELP OF
LIKES AND SHARES

9. Protesting via Social Media
E-Signing online petitions is a common and
simple form of online protesting. Individuals
sign their name on a website and if a certain
number of people participate, the petition
apparently instills change.

10. 64%
Protesting via Social Media
Some studies show that those who supported a cause online were
64%more inclined to show support in more tangible ways such as
volunteering or donating. [4]

11. Protesting via Social Media
“Groups like MoveOn.org, Avaaz.org and 350.org have
shown that you can connect and mobilize large numbers of
people with limited resources. The recent climate marches
in 166 countries are an example of this. If done
strategically, online action generally leads to offline action -
to conversations, debates, phone calls, protests and
eventual cultural and policy change. It goes much deeper
than just email based petitions.”
- CEL Managing Director Cindy Kang [10]

12. Protesting via Social Media
Despite these positive points some fear that issues
raised in these online petitions “can over simplify
complex ethical questions” [9]
Source: Emma Jane Hogbin Westby, Flickr

13. Protesting via Social Media
It can also lead people to believe
that if they have “liked” a cause
they have done enough.
Source: Tiger Pixel, Flickr

14. Protesting via Social Media
“For example, more than a million people used social media to
“check in” at the Standing Rock Reservation, center of the
Dakota Access Pipeline protests. Far fewer people – just a few
thousand – have traveled to the North Dakota camps to brave
the arriving winter weather and risk arrest.” [8]
Source: Jørgen Carling, Flickr

15. SHEDDING LIGHT ON
ISSUES USINGTHE
POWER OF RETWEETS

16. SpreadingAwareness
In 2014 a photo of MichelleObama holding a sign
reading #BringBackOurGirls was retweeted more
than 3 million times. It spread the otherwise
unheard-of message around the world. [4]
Source: Michelle Obama, Twitter

17. SpreadingAwareness
One of the goals isn’t to solve the problem but
to shed light on issues that would otherwise
go unnoticed. “overexposure is necessary in
this day and age of constant information.” [3]

18. SpreadingAwareness
“Our brain has evolved to reward us for perceived altruism. When we
think we have helped others, the body releases dopamine and
endorphins as a reward to encourage more good behaviour.This
chemical motivation pushed us out of the cave to hunt down one more
woolly mammoth for our hungry tribe. Unfortunately, modern times
confuse the brain and it mistakes actually feeding the starving with re-
tweeting #FeedTheStarving.” [7]
Source: Kreg Steppe, Flickr

19. FOR EXAMPLE:
LOOKING AT
KONY 2012

20. For Example
In 2012 the 30 minute short film entitled “Kony
2012” was watched over 100 million times.Their
accompanying pledge was signed by over 3 and a
half million people. [5]

21. For Example
The Kony Campaign was driven by social media
and the sheer number of people they were able to
connect with shows the power of social good. [5]

22. IN CONCLUSION

23. In Conclusion
Slacktivism has been given a bad reputation by the
public. Some of this criticism may be earned with some
online campaigns using watered down information to
attempt to entice people to get involved. However,
these online efforts lead to more people joining the
cause on the ground, allowing people to create their
own funding, and increased awareness of social issues.

24. Citations
Course Sources
[1] Lin, Thomas. "Scientists Turn to Crowds on the Web to Finance Their Projects." New York Times, 12 July 2011, p. D3(L). Academic
OneFile,
go.galegroup.com.proxy.queensu.ca/ps/i.do?p=AONE&sw=w&u=queensulaw&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA261128506&asid=7c55c877ec1
800468200ee6dc6181ac2. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[2] Matrix, Sidneyeve. “Module 04 FILM260 Social Good” Lecture, 31 March 2017
[3] Sharma, Ritu. “Stop Pouring Ice on Clicktivism.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 20 Aug. 2014,
www.huffingtonpost.com/ritusharma/stop-pouring-ice-on-click_b_5692555.html. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[4] Kielburger, Marc, and Craig Kielburger. “Global Voices: 'Liking' must be followed up with real-World action.” Times Colonist, 12 Apr.
2015, www.timescolonist.com/life/global-voices-liking-must-be-followed-up-with-real-world-action-1.1820728. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[5] Bresciani, Sabrina , and Andreas Schmeil. “Social media platforms for social good.” Digital Ecosystems Technologies, 2 July 2012,
doi:10.110 9/DEST.2012.6227944. Accessed 31 May 2017.
Outside Sources
[6] “What is clicktivism.” Clicktivist, www.clicktivist.org/what-is-clicktivism/. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[7] Gilmore, Scott. “The problem with #slacktivism.” Macleans.ca, 12 Nov. 2014, www.macleans.ca/society/the-real-problem-with-
slacktivism/. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[8] Earl, Jennifer. “Slacktivism for everyone: How keyboard activism is affecting social movements.” Salon, 24 Dec. 2016,
www.salon.com/2016/12/24/slacktivism-how-online-activism-is-affecting-social-movements_partner/. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[9] Regan, Ciara. “Social media 'Clicktivism' creates more apathy than empathy | Debates.” DevelopmentEducation.ie, 15 Jan. 2015,
www.developmenteducation.ie/debates/clicktivism/. Accessed 31 May 2017.
[10] McKiernan, Ruairí. “Berkeley's Freedom Flame Kept Alive by New Generation of Digital Activists.” The Huffington Post,
TheHuffingtonPost.com, 2 Oct. 2014, www.huffingtonpost.com/ruairi-mckiernan/berkeleys-freedom-flame-k_b_5916796.html. Accessed
31 May 2017.