Fad Activism via Social Media
January 31st, 2010 by John Creighton in Dispatches
Tags: Mentors, Public Leaders, Public Values, Social Media
Hundreds of thousands of Iranians took to the streets in mid-June to protest what appeared to be a bogus vote count to re-elect President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The protestors used Twitter to communicate with each other and the world.
Americans – and people from many other countries – celebrated both the Iranian protestors’ cry for freedom and the role of the social media phenomenon Twitter. The Washington Times dubbed the June rallies as Iran’s Twitter Revolution.
A craze quickly swept the Twitter-sphere. Twitter users added green shade or borders to their photos. Some added the text, “Where Is Their Vote.” These tweaks to personal icons were a demonstration of solidarity with Iranian protestors seeking greater freedom. Or, was it to celebrate how cool Twitter had become and to tell the world I’m an early part of this new spectacle that’s now grabbing the headlines? I was never quite sure.
Most, not all, of the green shaded photos are gone. Iranian protestors have mostly faded from the headlines. Are Twitter users still standing in solidarity for democracy and freedom? Or, has a new fad captured our fancy. Letting one another know that we sent the text “Haiti” to 90999 (which I did).
I have become a fan of social media. I find it a useful tool to reconnect with old and new friends; seed conversations about public issues; let people know I’ve posted a new blog, and contribute funds in a hurry to organizations responding to an urgent need. But, I’m sometimes concerned that social media promotes a false sense of action. We use social media to engage on the issue du jour and let ourselves believe that we are doing more than we are.
I came across a post by blogger Geoff Livingston titled, “Why We’re in the Age of the Citizen Philanthropist.” He describes a phenomenon he dubs, “Slactivism.” Mr. Livingston writes, “The ease of social tools creates another phenomena: The rise of slactivism. Now anyone can think they are a philanthropist simply by sounding off with a tweet or texting ten dollars for Haiti relief. While the simplicity of such actions increases the likelihood of charity, an individual’s long-term impact can be considered negligible.”
Contrast the rise of slactivists to a man I met this weekend named Bob Charles. He has dedicated countless time, money and energy over many years to a single organization. The organization is known as Imagine, which is dedicated to providing innovative resources to people with cognitive and physical challenges. He was recognized at the banquet I attended. I couldn’t see him when his name was called. I was told by a friend at his table that he didn’t want to stand up. Bob doesn’t shade his photos green to show solidarity. He prefers to work often behind the scenes.
Or, consider a mentor of mine, Karen Sekich. She dedicates herself to Rotary International, raising money locally to end polio and traveling the world to help with projects to provide people with clean water. She focuses much of her time and energy on one organization. No issue du jour for her.
I don’t want to knock the potential – past, present and future – of social media to help rally people around a good cause. But, we must be cautious in our globally networked world that we don’t simply become fascinated with fads. Licking big problems still takes long-term, concerted effort.
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Photo Credit: dougcurran (Flickr).