Clicktivism

Clicks count!

71% go online to discuss what’s on their

minds [1]

Among millennials

American’s aged 18 and older spend an average of

One hour per day on the Internet and at least another hour

with apps [1]

Social Media thrives on engagement and conversation

To gain visibility, An organization needs to be

where the action is [1,2]

Clicktivism | [klik-tuh-viz-uh m]

[noun]1. the use of information

communication technologies, such as social media, to promote, support, and advance worthy causes.

2. Clicktivism can include a range of activates such as organizing protests and signing petitions. [3,4, 5]

 

Many critics have condemned Clicktivists,

instead calling them Slacktivists. [6]

Critics of Clicktivism believe:

1. Getting involved online merely creates the

impression of support for an organization [1]

2. All the “likes”, “tweets”, and “shares” generated by

online activists are “feel-good measures” that do not

yield results [7]

3. That Clicktivists are lazy and actually degrade “the very nature of

activism” [8] - meg Wagner

in order to create greater change offline [1]

But in fact, a number of organizations have found ways to operate

effectively online

So why does Clicktivism work? [9]

Part of Clicktivism’s success is due to

the ease with which individuals can initially get involved

and share their cause with friends [10]

Social media allows organizations and activists to raise awareness on a larger

scale

and reach an audience they might not have touched offline

[5,7]

But in order to make digital engagement meaningful

online presence must be leveraged so that online

activism is tied to specific offline action and outcomes

[6]

“A successful activist utilizes both virtual and real-life tools to spread the message”

[8]

- Meg Wagner

The ALS Ice Bucket

Challenge

For example:

The point of the challenge: To raise awareness and

money for ALS

by creating funny, shareable videos of individuals pouring buckets of ice water

on themselves

The ice bucket challenge is a true example of a successful, viral, online and

offline campaign.

The challenge raised 800% over what was

raised in the same period of time during the

pervious year

So, how can online campaigns be successful?

1. Present the campaign message from an online

perspective.

- Adapt your message so that it translates properly online, where

people function differently than they do offline

- Make sure your message can become a catalyst for conversation [2]

2. Be witty to engage

viewers!

- Social media has the ability to allow multiple narratives to

occur at the same time. - If you’re message can

engage many, you will reach a larger audience [2]

3. Expose you’re campaign and decentralize social networking

- Run your campaign on many different websites in order to create multiple points of

contact [2]

- Create a relationship with social media. - Be sure to connect your online mission to offline action in order to generate change in the real world! [2]

4. Create a sustainable operation

Clicktivism can “make the world, the one beyond the keyboard, a better place”

- David Carr

Work Cited:

1. Carr, D. (2012, March 25). Hashtag Activism, and Its Limits. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/business/media/hashtag-activism-and-its-limits.html

 

2. Adhikari, A. (2012, April 5). How charities can use social media for digital campaigning. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2012/apr/05/charities-social-media-digital-campaigning

 

3. Sharma, R. (2014, August 20). Stop Pouring Ice on Clicktivism. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ritusharma/stop-pouring-ice-on-click_b_5692555.html

 

4. What is clicktivism? (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.clicktivist.org/what-is-clicktivism/

 

5. Kielburger, C., & Kielburger, M. (2015, April 10). A click is not enough to have impact on world. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://cnews.canoe.com/CNEWS/World/2015/04/10/22337541.html

 

6. Faw, L. (2012, October 23). Are Millennials Lazy Or Avant-Garde Social Activists? Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.forbes.com/sites/larissafaw/2012/10/23/are-millennials-lazy-or-avant-garde-social-activists/

 

7. Moore, G. (2012, May 3). When clicking counts: In defense of slacktivism and clicktivism. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.one.org/us/2012/05/03/when-clicking-counts-in-defense-of-slacktivism-and-clicktivism/

 

8. Wagner, M. (2013, September 25). Why 'Clicktivism' Isn't a Dirty Word. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://mashable.com/2013/09/25/clickivism/

 

9. Carr, D. (2012, March 25). Hashtag Activism, and Its Limits. Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/business/media/hashtag-activism-and-its-limits.html

 

10. Kingsley, P. (2011, July 20). Avaaz: Activism or 'slacktivism'? Retrieved June 5, 2015, from http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/20/avaaz-activism-slactivism-clicktivism