Advocates, Activists, and Slacktivists—Oh My! With the rise of social media in the 21st century, movements for social change have shifted to a digital landscape—leading to a brand new category of people: slacktivists. 

Slacktivism is the act of supporting a social or political cause on the internet in a way that does not require much effort. Whereas advocacy and activism require effort beyond the screen to create change. 

Advocates vs. Slacktivists

Advocacy, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is the public support or action for an idea, issue, or cause. This sounds a lot like slacktivism, but the difference between supporting a cause as an advocate versus a slacktivist is that advocates organize and amplify awareness of the problem through various methods beyond social media. 

Examples of advocacy include:

  • Hosting a networking event where you share your passions with others.
  • Organizing a protest—it can be as large or small as you want!
  • Testifying at your local town hall or committee meeting.
  • Conducting research and organizing data about an issue.
  • Creating art/posters/slogans for a public demonstration.
  • Writing a blog or news article about an issue.
  • Volunteering your time at a local nonprofit.

Examples of slacktivism include:

  • Reposting a news article and then scrolling.
  • Signing a petition without following up to see what it did.
  • Posting a color in support of a cause.
  • Using a hashtag on your story or post.
  • Hopping on a trend to give your opinion, and then never speaking about it again.

You can be an advocate for just about anything! It’s important to recognize that slacktivism stops after a tap on your screen, whereas advocacy serves as a foundation that leads to activism.

Activism vs. Slacktivism

A simple way to remember the difference between activism and slacktivism is to focus on the first part of the word. Activism is geared toward action and slacktivism is… well, slacking! Activists are usually at the forefront of social movements. In contrast to advocacy and slacktivism, activism involves more direct and sometimes disruptive measures to drive social and political change.

Common forms of activism include:

  • Attending protests and rallies
  • Leading and publicly supporting boycotts
  • Organizing and participating in large-scale campaigns
  • Demonstrations or sit-ins
  • Contacting your representatives often—so often they know your number by heart.

Famous examples of activism:

  • The Boston Tea Party—yeah, this is a callback. But it showcases American Colonists protesting taxes on tea and the monopoly of the East India Company by literally throwing tea into the harbor. This was a critical moment towards the American Revolution.
  • Deaf President Now (DPN): In 1988, more than 1,500 students, faculty, and supporters gathered at Gallaudet University to demand a Deaf President. They used their cars & school buses to blockade the University entrances, locked gates with chains, and used their bodies as a shield. 
  • Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott: In 1955, Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her seat to a white man and was then arrested. This moment sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, where African Americans used alternative modes of transportation instead of the city buses—lasting three hundred and eighty-one days.
  • Earth Day 1970: Senator Gaylord Nelson announced a teach-in on college campuses to protest environmental issues in America. This call-to-action led to the participation of over 20 million people, contributed to the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, established a yearly celebration of “Earth Day”, and is known as the birth of the U.S. Environmental Movement. 

Deaf President Now Movement. Image taken from gallaudet

Which Category Should I Fall Into?

Advocacy and activism go hand in hand; both are essential for creating societal change. Slacktivism is the odd one out and does not further any cause, issue, or change. 

It’s important to find what resonates with you. If you enjoy organizing and researching, advocacy might be a good fit. Conversely, if you’re comfortable being in the spotlight and pushing for change, activism could be your path. Often, both roles are valuable options to consider!

Or, you might find yourself falling into the slacktivism category—while this new category is easy to fit into, it’s not the one you want to stay in long-term. 

Begin with small steps that help you put your phone down. A good place to begin is by finding a cause that you are passionate about! Once you have a foundation, you can begin volunteering your time towards that cause, speaking up and contacting your legislators, and maybe even joining a protest! The Lesniak Institute is here to help you with each step. We offer guidance on what direction might be the perfect fit for you, information on how to contact your legislators, and connections with grassroots and nonprofit organizations correlated with your passion. Contact us by phone, email, or a social media DM, we are here to support your journey as a changemaker.

No form of advocacy or activism is too small, they both play an important role in our world. Slacktivism does not—so let’s work together to end this third category once and for all!

 

About the Author: Claudia Abrantes is the PR & Communications Strategist at The Lesniak Institute. She is passionate about environmental protection, social justice, and ending slacktivism!