I haven’t written a blog in a while – mainly because I haven’t felt inspired to write, nor have I felt pressed to really write about anything in particular. I figure, if I’m not writing anything worthwhile (or that I’m at least passionate about), why would any one take their time to read it?
But, after the latest “social cause” to hit Facebook – and the surprising backlash I received when I called it “silly” – I wrote most of this post as a comment to a very lengthy, and quite amusing, discussion that started on my wall. Realizing a comment shouldn’t be two pages long, I knew I had the topic to resuscitate my idle blog.
I’m not sure what I’m more surprised at – The negative feedback I received from genuine friends (both in comments and phone calls/text) or how much the entire thing was taken out of context.
I don’t know if people took offense because they thought I was making fun of them, or if they’re just really passionate about changing their profile pictures. But really, my frustration with these Facebook events/chains/causes/whatever is based more on what they actual represent – which is the ability to be involved in something, without actually being involved in it.
It’s actually been given a name: Slacktivism.
To borrow a quick definition: “The word is considered a pejorative term that describes "feel-good" measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction. The acts also tend to dilute awareness campaigns and require minimal personal effort from the slacktivist.”
That really sums up why I got annoyed with the whole thing in the first place. The "movement" started off as a game, not an actual cause. It’s been going around Facebook – obviously on a smaller scale – since early November as a game to flood people with memories of childhood. Some person just randomly decided to add "this is to bring awareness to child abuse"... Instantly creating our newest Facebook “cause”.
So it's not like this is a real movement lead by an active organization that is calling people to look for the signs of abuse, or help kids who have been abused heal and have mentors or even actually do anything other than change a picture. It's just a chain letter that arbitrarily got turned into a "cause". Like every other Facebook event/cause/movement that all of us are seeing our friend’s list post on a weekly/monthly basis.
In all the power that Facebook has to offer to help make a difference in the world by having access to millions of people, this is just another chain letter with a warm fuzzy center so people feel good. Next month there will be another new "campaign" that people will "get behind" by posting a status or changing their picture or who knows what.
But ultimately, these campaigns are nothing like a real marketing campaign or political/social cause because it offers no solutions, advice, guidance or support for those who want to make a difference. You would never post an online ad for a product with out including a link so viewers of the ad (who are now "aware" of your product) can purchase that product. Likewise, you would never run an ad during the Superbowl for your new product with out giving it's name, website, or where people can buy/get/use/find your product. That is a complete waste of a potential customer/activist. Awareness means nothing if people can't/won't/don't do anything with it.
Imagine if this "campaign" had said something like,
"December is child abuse awareness month. We're inviting EVERYONE to go to their local shelter on every Saturday this month and volunteer to work with children for a few hours."
Do you REALLY think the same number of people who changed their picture would sacrifice their Saturday? Doubtful.
And that is why most of them frustrate me and I don’t join in. It’s not that I’m too cool for it or anything even remotely close to that. Rather, I feel like a hypocrite by doing so because I know I’m not going to actually do anything beyond reposting the status/update… and I don’t think I’m alone in that. Where’s the power in a Facebook update if you could instead go out and do something?
During Sisters/Brothers/Fathers/Mothers/Kids/Grandparents/Pets/Spouse Month, why not just do something nice for that person offline instead of posting a status? Obviously, people won’t know how sweet you are, but I’m sure Grandma would love an unexpected call to say hello… much more than your friends probably appreciate your post about her.
I guess my whole point is really these "movements" on Facebook actually, in my opinion, do more harm for REAL movements than they do help because people become desensitized to what it actually means to be involved. If every other week there is a new "movement" eventually people will either stop listening completely, or they'll play along but with out actually doing anything... or in this case, even knowing WHAT they're involved in.
When we, as a generation, have access to millions of people via social media - why are we choosing things like this to "get behind" when, if we truly cared about whatever it is we're promoting, we could use that same power to ACTUALLY do something? To actually create a movement with actions instead of updates? And by all means, I'm as guilty of this as anyone - which is the exact reason why I still have yet to change my picture.
To me that would be like changing my profile picture to a picture of my family's Thanksgiving feast to help bring awareness to the fact that millions of people are starving to death every year... There’s something not right about that picture. But what do I know? Maybe I’ll start a “Help Nico Understand Facebook Causes… Cause”.
I expect to see everyone’s profile picture changed to their favorite fruit by the end of the week to help raise awareness of this important movement.
