Digital Activism, Is It Really a Slacktivism?

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Source: Ana Mendes, 'Young European and digital activism', Council of Europe European Union.


Online activist often being scorned as slacktivism (Gladwell 2010; Morozov 2009, cited in Cabrera 2017). However, this view was too generalized and narrow (Cabrera 2017). Digital activism is another form of activism that may offer and allow bigger space to voice movements. The online space has allowed more opportunities for people to promote social justice beyond their capable scope offline (Biddix 2010, cited in Cabrera 2017). With the unlimited reach, digital activism helps to create democratic space and engagement for everyone, anywhere (Biddix 2010; Pasque and Vargas 2014, cited in Cabrera 2017).


Recently, a social movement and protest, Black Lives Matter, occurred regarding the death of George Floyd. The tragedy was happening in the middle of the Pandemic. All the petitions and movements were held online, mostly via Instagram by millions of people. Neal Caren, who studies social movements in the United States said, “I’ve never seen self-reports of protest participation that high for a specific issue over such a short period,” (Buchanan et al. 2020)


Slacktivism is a term for contributing to social movements online that do not require significant effort. Whereas, clicktivism is the subcategories for slacktivism that could be posting support, making or signing an online petition, liking and commenting.


Undertaking video activism via YouTube may spike more attention as video footage are more reliable than pictures and writings. However, posting video activism may result in undesirable consequences such as exposure to legal risks and the amplification of official surveillance (Wilson and Serisier 2010).  




Wilson D and Serisier T (2010), ‘Video Activism and the Ambiguities of Counter-Surveillance’, Surveillance & Society 8(2): 166-180.


Cabrera N (2017), ‘Activism or Slacktivism? The Potential and Pitfalls of Social Media’, Journal of Higher Education, 10(4): 400-15.


The New York Times (3 July 2020) Black Lives Matter May Be the Largest Movement in U.S. History, The New York Times, accessed 18 December 2020.

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