As social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter are evolving into almost ubiquitous forms of communication, it is becoming significantly easier for any concerned citizen to turn into a political activist. But when we sign Facebook petitions or re-tweet heart-wrenching articles, are we really doing anything to effect political change?
I recently had a conversation about this very question with Tom Chatfield, author of the eBook, “Summer of Unrest: Activism or Slacktivism?”
(Listen to our full conversation here.)
While signing up for newsletters from altruistic non-profits may make us feel better, Chatfield argues, they do little to carry out the agenda they so ardently support. This Internet-fueled apathy is what Chatfield characterizes as “slacktivism.”
“The fear behind this is that people do easy token things online that make them feel better,” said Chatfield, “but they don’t actually do anything to change the world or politics.”
Chatfield maintains that social media can often create a sort of pseudo-movement online that is disconnected from actual events on the ground. Social media, by itself, is not enough to reform governments or enact new policies. Instead, social media must serve as a launching pad to inspire action.
“If you take this view that on its own new media can save the world and change politics, you’re not thinking about these things in the right way. You’re failing to grasp what politics is about and what bring political change in the real world,” he said.
There is little doubt that social media has revolutionized political discourse and mass organization in the current decade, but Chatfield does not see social media’s current role as conclusive evidence to define its future.
“The possibilities of our technology play out 10 or 20 years ahead of our thinking. What will happen culturally speaking in 5 or 10 years time is an open question.”
You can listen to our full conversation here. Or download the podcast on iTunes.