Likes don't save lives. Money does.
Social media is a powerful tool that can help spark conversations necessary for social change.
Twitter and Facebook “revolutions” helped organizers disseminate their pro-democracy messages to
the masses in Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Bahrain during the Arab Spring uprising of
2010-2011. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and Kony 2012 sparked conversation and became
household names.
Twitter and Facebook “revolutions” helped organizers disseminate their pro-democracy messages to
the masses in Tunisia, Morocco, Syria, Libya, Egypt and Bahrain during the Arab Spring uprising of
2010-2011. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and Kony 2012 sparked conversation and became
household names.
But years later, do our friends and family or even ourselves know what ALS stands for or could we
recognize the symptoms of someone suffering with the disease? What ever happened to war criminal
Joseph Kony? With over 102 million views and 1.3 million likes on Youtube, Kony still remains at large.
The campaign promotes global activism but has been criticized as actually promoting "slacktivism",
in which participants donate or take actions that have little to no effect beyond making them feel like
they contributed. The campaign’s black-and-white picture has also been criticized for elevating Kony
to a global celebrity, which may have helped him rally support for an already diminishing terrorist
organization from sympathizers around the world.
recognize the symptoms of someone suffering with the disease? What ever happened to war criminal
Joseph Kony? With over 102 million views and 1.3 million likes on Youtube, Kony still remains at large.
The campaign promotes global activism but has been criticized as actually promoting "slacktivism",
in which participants donate or take actions that have little to no effect beyond making them feel like
they contributed. The campaign’s black-and-white picture has also been criticized for elevating Kony
to a global celebrity, which may have helped him rally support for an already diminishing terrorist
organization from sympathizers around the world.
Older generations and more traditional protesters warn “armchair activist” and “keyboard warriors”
about abandoning the cause before the action phase. General attention spans appear to be
decreasing as news cycle fatigue sets in and new stories emerge daily.
about abandoning the cause before the action phase. General attention spans appear to be
decreasing as news cycle fatigue sets in and new stories emerge daily.
International charity organization UNICEF has taken note by saying; "We like likes, and social media
could be a good first step to get involved, but it cannot stop there. Likes don't save children's lives.
We need money to buy vaccines for instance." Virtual support alone isn’t always enough for some
social causes.
could be a good first step to get involved, but it cannot stop there. Likes don't save children's lives.
We need money to buy vaccines for instance." Virtual support alone isn’t always enough for some
social causes.
South West Action Group (SWAG) for social justice demonstrates their understanding of this
sentiment with their slogan: LESS TALK. MORE ACTION.
sentiment with their slogan: LESS TALK. MORE ACTION.
- Paul Manes
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