[Reader-list] Slacktivism - Articles on Online Activism

[Chandni Parekh]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/article1140600.ece

A slacktivist and his crackberry are seldom parted
Excerpt:

Evgeny Morozov, custodian of a blog called Net Effect, spoke of Internet
users who imagine themselves to be hard-working activists when all they do
is press a key to forward an online petition to their contact list. As
others cheerfully forward the petition, it becomes the Flying Dutchman of
the Internet, with no place to land but with many overtaxed in-boxes to
haunt. The word given to this blithe button-pushing is slacktivism, a cross
between slacker and activism. It's a baked Alaska of a word, combining the
heat of activism with the coolness of barely lifting a finger.

-----

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104302141&sc=fb&cc=fp

*Foreign Policy: Brave New World Of Slacktivism

*Excerpts:*
*

 "Slacktivism <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slacktivism>" is an apt term to
describe feel-good online activism that has zero political or social impact.
It gives those who participate in "slacktivist" campaigns an illusion of
having a meaningful impact on the world without demanding anything more than
joining a Facebook group.

"Slacktivism" is the ideal type of activism for a lazy generation: why
bother with sit-ins and the risk of arrest, police brutality, or torture if
one can be as loud campaigning in the virtual space? Given the media's
fixation on all things digital -- from blogging to social networking to
Twitter -- every click of your mouse is almost guaranteed to receive
immediate media attention, as long as it's geared towards the noble causes.
That media attention doesn't always translate into campaign effectiveness is
only of secondary importance.

The real issue here is whether the mere availability of the "slacktivist"
option is likely to push those who in the past might have confronted the
regime in person with demonstrations, leaflets, and labor organizing to
embrace the Facebook option and join a gazillion online issue groups
instead.

Of course, the ideal case here is when one's participation in digital
activism doesn't subtract from -- and instead enhances -- one's eagerness to
participate in real-life campaigns. However, it's also quite possible that a
significant portion of the activist population would be morally content with
the "slacktivist" option alone, preferring not to get too close to more
dangerous activities that are likely to get them in trouble with
authorities.