This presentation examines the benefits and pitfalls of using social media towards social change.

1. Social media's
Slactivism
A Film 315 presentation
by Katherine Fernandez-Blance

2. We live in an age where we can
support a cause without actually
doing much to help it...

3. Our support for an issue can come
through Facebook 'likes'...

4. ...Or our Twitter
#Hashtags.

5. Our status updates can
show our support for
breast cancer.

6. But can these 2-second tools
become more than a lazy person's
activism?
Can we turn Slactivism
into Activism?

7. Most people want to
help others. Social
media provides the
tools.

8. Millions of people are
using social media to
support a cause, through
solidarity measures or
financial means.

9. Thousands of organizations doing on the ground
work have jumped on the bandwagon.
They are using social media to
build global support networks.

10. Websites like Jumo and Citizen Effect have been
created to provide do-gooders with an outlet for their
interests in social good.

11. The goal of such sites is to both
create communities of
awareness and to raise funds
for hundreds of programs.

12. The benefits of this
type of activism are
clear...

13. Social Media creates a platform in which all pertinent
information is readily available to browse
and supporting a cause is
just a click away.

14. Instead of joining a protest you can virtually support
something through your digital footprint...

15. And, best of all you can care about a cause for as
long as you like, and forget about it at your leisure.

16. So, has social media successfully been used for
social good?

17. More than 25 million Facebook users support at
least one Facebook 'cause'
but has that actually
translated into big bucks
for nonprofits?

18. No...less than 1% of those who like a cause have
actually donated anything towards it.

19. "It's an experiment that shows social media is a great
way to touch people. But, it may have a ways to go in
terms of raising money."
Elliot Bisnow, Fundraiser for Nothing but Nets

20. Twitter most notably was successful in raising global
awareness for events that had banned Western
journalists from reporting.

21. Dubbed citizen journalism, those on the ground
could hashtag #Iranelection or #Jan25
and Twitter users worldwide
could watch the events
unfold.

22. Moldova's, Iran's and Egypt's events have been
called Twitter revolutions because of the mass
organization it enabled.

23. Even earlier, indigenous Mexican activist group the
Zapatistas gained worldwide attention through their
internet campaigns
resulting in hundreds of
global solidarity groups
springing up.

24. Recently, Al Jazeera journalist Dorothy Parvaz was
released from Iranian detention.
Facebook groups and #freedorothy hashtags
made it clear that people were calling for her
release.

25. Behind social media activism are real people who
can and do come together to create real change.

26. Social media activism can be a stepping stone into
other forms!

27. It's up to us to decide what
our level of engagement
will be.
Slactivist or
activist?
You decide!

28. References
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2009/04/21/AR2009042103786_2.
html?sub=AR
http://www.businessinsider.com/the-maker-
movement-proves-that-online-revolutions-are-not-
just-a-lazy-protestors-form-of-activism-2010-9
http://mashable.com/2010/09/19/chris-hughes-
interview/
http://www.newyorker.
com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell
http://mashable.com/2010/05/13/slacktivists-activists-
social-media/
http://networkconference.netstudies.
org/2010/04/from-slacktivism-to-activism-how-social-
media-is-changing-the-face-of-political-protest-
around-the-world/
http://www.newsweek.com/blogs/the-human-
condition/2010/01/08/what-color-is-your-bra-
facebook-s-pointless-underwear-protest.html
All images under: http://justjudyjudyjudy.com/2011/01/15/netroots-
minnesota-2011-political-activism-social-media-2/
http://www.businessinsider.com/dorothy-parvaz-
care2-syria-facebook-twitter-hashtag-2011-5