Slacktivism or Activism? Examining Engagement with Online Social Movements

• In Event: Activism, Protest & Policing

Abstract

The adoption of social media as a platform for driving socio-cultural change has surged in popularity in recent years. Unlike traditional in-person social movements that emphasize tangible impacts, online social movements often face scrutiny regarding their efficacy in effecting enduring real-world change, commonly labeled as slacktivism. The current study examines the content of tweets from various race and gender-based online social movements to determine participants' intentions for follow-through in offline contexts and attention-seeking sentiments. The findings indicate that although offline engagement may be constrained, online reactions still significantly contribute to the broader movements. Furthermore, the study explores the ramifications of virtual participation in relation to different objectives within these movements.

Authors

• Kacy Bleeker, University of Houston-Downtown

• Amanda Marie Murdock, University of South Florida