Slacktivism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Slacktivism (sometimes slactivism) is a portmanteau formed out of the words slacker and activism, and describes people who are activists but who do not engage in much physical activity to further their cause. "Slacktivists", as they are called, may also be referred to as "armchair activists" or "latte-activists" and are derided for a lack of "commitment to the cause" or "being willing to take the extra step". A common argument in support of slacktivism is that it allows those who are unable to participate in more active forms of protest, such as bed-ridden individuals, to be and feel part of a larger social movement. However, most people who use slacktivism in a pejorative sense apply it to able-bodied people who could extend themselves more.

In a statement on Snopes.com, Barbara Mikkelson stated:

We can't claim credit for having coined this term, nor do we know its actual origin, but we love it nonetheless. Slacktivism is the search for the ultimate feel-good that derives from having come to society's rescue without actually getting one's hands dirty, volunteering any of one's time, or opening one's wallet. It's slacktivism that prompts us to forward appeals for business cards on behalf of a dying child intent upon having his name recorded in the Guinness World Book of Records or exhortations to others to continue circulating a particular e-mail because some big company has supposedly promised that every forward will generate monies for the care of a languishing tot. Likewise, it's slacktivism that prompts us to want to join a boycott of designated gas companies or eschew buying gasoline on a particular day rather than reduce our personal consumption of fossil fuels by driving less and taking the bus more often. Slacktivism comes in many forms, but its defining characteristic is its central theme of doing good with little or no effort on the part of the person inspired to participate, through the mechanisms of forwarding, exhorting, collecting, or e-signing.[1]

Exactly what constitutes "slacktivism" is open to debate, but activities discussed include signing Internet petitions, the wearing of wristbands ("awareness bracelets") with political messages on them and taking part in short-term boycotts such as Buy Nothing Day.