From Informative to Performative: When Social Media Becomes Problematic

Furthermore, performativeallyshiphas led to doubts on the tangible impact of social media activism.

But its also the most we can do.

That said, these issues with effective social media arent relegated to just political activism.

Such a practice highlights the issues with representation and visibility alone being seen as virtues of a good ally.

As the data has shown, political preferences influence romantic interest, attraction, and even relationship length.

Trauma memes exemplify this, whereby participants lean on humor to help them process and share their experiences.

This is also the main critique of Instagram infographics.

For one, the oversimplification of complex geopolitical/social issues is presented in a way that can contribute to misinformation.

Furthermore, the sharing of these infographics directly contributes to slacktivism.

Click below to listen now.

So, What Makes Good Racial Allyship?

While many of the practices highlighted above are problematic, sometimes this harm is done without ill intent.

So how do you shift your actions into more effective allyship?

Digital engagement is often seen as verification that their efforts were successful.

After all, online engagement doesnt mean a systematic transfer of power to subjugated groups.

Social media activism and allyship arent ineffectual.

However, we all must remain vigilant in the fight against oppression.

Its time to put meaningful action back into social media activism.

2015;65(6):932952. doi:10.1111/jcom.12185

Pew Research Center.Social media conversations about race.

2017;40(11):18311846. doi:10.1080/01419870.2017.1334934

Ozkula SM.What is digital activism anyway?

Social constructions of the digital in contemporary activism.Journal of Digital Social Research.

2021;3(3):60-84.

Schradie J.The digital activism gap: how class and costs shape online collective action.Social Problems.

2018;65(1):5174. doi:10.1093/socpro/spx042

Lacetera N, Macis M, Mele A.Viral altruism?

Charitable giving and social contagion in online networks.SocScience.

Capraro V, ed.PLoS ONE.

2020;15(4):e0231314.

2018;6(1):4975. doi:10.5964/jspp.v6i1.747

Cherwell.Everything wrong with social media infographics: An informative thread.

2017;45(5):606617. doi:10.1111/jasp.12172

Brown KT, Ostrove JM.

What does it mean to be an ally?

PRRI.Race, religion, and political affiliation of Americans core social networks.