Clicktivism refers to digital activism such as promoting causes on social media, soliciting donations, and signing petitions. While the online world offers opportunities for activism and connection, clicktivism is criticized as "slacktivism" where low engagement substitutes for real action. However, online activism should not be dismissed as it can raise awareness and influence offline events, demonstrating that a click for a cause is better than nothing.

1. Clicktivism
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2. “Clicktivism” refers to forms of digital
activism, which includes but is not
limited to promoting causes through
social media, soliciting donations, and
signing petitions.
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3. The online world offers another
platform for activism, and more
opportunities to make connections.
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4. “The premise
behind clicktivism
is that social
media allows for
quick and easy
ways to support
an organization
or cause.”
--clicktivist.org

5. Activists have taken advantage
of social media, blogging, and
the internet in order to promote
various causes.
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6. Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/6554314817
But clicktivism is also referred to as
slacktivism– referencing the lack of
engagement on the part of those
involved.

7. “Clicktivism has also been
called “slacktivism”,
where low-cost effort
substitutes for action. By
clicking, re-posting, or
“liking”, we feel we’ve
done our bit for the cause.”
--Karen Brooks
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8. Image source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/modrak/144975749
It is also criticized on the grounds
that it has rendered activism
meaningless by being more
concerned with exposure and
“clicks,” and has alienated would-be
activists who are disillusioned by the
advertising of social issues.

9. Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/foto_db/13904995945/
“The trouble is that this model of
activism uncritically embraces the
ideology of marketing. It accepts that
the tactics of advertising and market
research used to sell toilet paper can
also build social movements…”

10. “Clicktivism is activism
degraded into advertising.”
--Micah White
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11. https://www.flickr.com/photos/miuenski/5887393036
But what is actvism?

12. The word “activism” evokes images
such as street protests…
//www.flickr.com/photos/antonin_remond/8220884938

13. But can activism take place online?
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14. Online activism may seem less
involved, but it does not mean that it
is not still a form of action.
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15. “Activism: the policy or action of using
vigorous campaigning to bring about
political or social change.”
--Oxford English Dictionary
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16. Online activity-- whether it is social
media, blogging, or petitioning-- is
action.
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17. Technology, digital
media, and the
online world
provides an
alternative
environment for
activism.
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18. Technology has provided many new
ways for people to interact. Along
with the new ways in which we can
communicate with each other,
activism has taken on new forms as
well.
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19. “With a combination of
clicktivism, slacktivism and
hacktivism, the online world can
certainly – and quite easily –
create havoc in the real world.”
--Sinead O'Carroll
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20. A click for a cause is better than
nothing at all, and at the very least,
can raise awareness.
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21. Clicktivism can affect the offline world.

22. Sources
• http://www.clicktivist.org/what-is-clicktivism/
• http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/aug/12/clicktivism-
ruining-leftist-activism
• https://www.adbusters.org/blogs/blackspot-blog/why-gladwell-wrong.html
• http://www.thejournal.ie/clicktivism-isnt-a-replacement-for-boots-on-the-
ground-activism-but-it-does-work-455486-May2012
• http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/the-clicktivists--a-new-breed-of-
protesters-6556435.html
• http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-jackson/the-hype-about-online-
act_b_749670.html
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