With the rise of social media has come the ability to spread and consume information at a rapid rate. Through these methods, many have been able to educate themselves and others. Social media has also provided the public with a place to constantly express their opinions and outrage. And mistakes are more heavily broadcasted and less easily forgotten. As a result of these things and many others, there has been somewhat of a cultural shift to an emphasis on political correctness.
A symptom of this new culture is the idea of activism as trendy. The popularity and emphasis currently on activism has led some to reconsider what it means to be an activist as well as vastly affected movements in both positive and negative regards.
In positive regards, this change has brought important and necessary exposure to movements. You all know what I’m talking about. Facebook friends posted up with pictures holding up signs, or typing out long paragraphs about how to be a better ally. There is power in numbers and through exposure, movements and marches, such as The Women’s March, have made waves and made history through their execution. Furthermore, mass outrage has caused certain cases that would ordinarily be swept under the rug to be highly publicized. Publicity surrounding certain cases has also led to real change being made. For example, Brock Turner's case was considered by most to be a miscarriage of justice. However, through the publicity it got, it became a high-profile case and people were able to petition for the judge who handed down Brock’s light sentence to be recalled, thus affecting real change.
Furthermore, through the use of social media, marginalized folks have a place to share their experiences. People now have access to opposing ideas and stories of experiences that challenge their perception of how the world works. Moreover, more voices in movements also allows for more recruitment, and the spread of information. Simply sprinkling in topical information, or correcting a friend’s ignorance goes a long way, and helps the cause. With mass numbers of people doing their best to debate and share knowledge, their message spreads and more often than not, people are better for it.
With activism becoming the trendy new topic, the lens activism has been viewed through and what it means to be an activist has also changed. Although exposure and mass numbers are important for movement success, some of the troves of people lining up to call themselves activists are not affecting meaningful change through their meant.
Nowadays, a lot of activism is shown through cutesy pins, or changing your profile picture to one with a border representing whatever trending topic is on the docket today. This brand of activism, cleverly labeled “slacktivism,” has led many to believe their job as an ally or voice in the movement is done after their latest profile picture loads. While the exposure given through the post is nice, it does nothing to really challenge others or better the movement.
Activism becoming trendy has also caused it to be picked up and discussed more by news networks. While, again, exposure is important, sometimes the message is sensationalized and lost in the broadcasts. Movements like Time’s Up or Black Lives Matter have been talked to death and through the discussion, many of the core ideas the movements were built on have been lost amongst the white noise. Ultimately leading certain movements to be given a bad name. Time’s Up is suddenly written off and branded as a witch hunt, and Black Lives Matter is labeled as anti-white.
People believe there is no such thing as bad publicity; however, perceptions of movements as anything but what they are can be incredibly harmful to the overall message and what is trying to be accomplished. In order for real substantive change to be made, these movements have to be able to communicate with political representatives, especially those whose minds they’re aiming to change. However, contact with higher ups, especially those with which necessary conversation needs to be had will be thrown by the wayside if activists in these movements are written off or misunderstood as looters or rioters.
And lastly, through the newfound popularity of activism, companies have caught on as well, and have been making moves to capitalize off their new socially aware audience. In some cases, intentions are good: representation of gay couples, or more diversity in commercials. However, sometimes these companies are so wrapped up in marketing off of advocacy that intention is lost in a muddled mass of poor marketing (Re: the Kendall Jenner Pepsi commercial). Moreover, many of these companies are simply marketing off of movements for monetary gain, not the actual desire for structural change. While that is not ideal, the normalization of trans individuals and further representation is always cause for celebration.
Everything taken into account, the widespread trend of being socially and politically aware has spurred a call for change and caused many to educate themselves in an attempt to keep up with the ever-changing and suddenly politically correct world.
While popularity has caused some aspects of activism and the ideals that come with it to be skewed, that simply might just be the cost of a movement gaining traction. And while I think there are better ways to support movements then changing a profile picture, as long as intentions are good and people are making a constant effort to learn and unlearn, I think this is a step in the right direction. Although there is still much work to be done, I believe it’s the beginning of a softer, and more compassionate world. And history will judge it accordingly.
