Click to save the world?
Posted: Tuesday, April 13, 2010 by Kathryn McConnachie in Labels: animal rights, armchair activism, digital petitions, facebook groups, responsibility
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As an animal rights activist I have encountered the armchair activist phenomenon on numerous occasions. I have received emails from ‘concerned citizens’ telling me how they are distraught over the local animal welfare organisation’s policy of euthanizing animals that are not adopted after a certain amount of time. One concerned citizen even went so far as to say that she has never actually visited the animal welfare organisation itself as it would simply upset her too much, but that she felt very strongly that something had to be done. It just had to be done by someone else.
This transfer of responsibility concerns me. For people to sink back into their armchairs after signing a digital petition, or sending an angry email, and for them to then feel some sense of accomplishment – that they have now done their part for the cause – results in no real change or consequence. Yes, the “Stop Animal Cruelty!” group on Facebook has close to 18 000 members, and a very lively discussion on the wall about the latest stories of animal abuse. But how many of those 18 000 people are actually actively engaged in efforts to improve the protection of animal interests? Less than a quarter would probably be a generous estimate.
My concern lies in the fact that some platforms of digital activism give people a false sense of being part of affecting change. We join groups, sign digital petitions and comment on the issues of the day. But when it comes down to it, have any of us really done anything?
In the weeks to come I will look more closely at the ways in which the potential of digital activism can be harnessed effectively when coupled with real action, and I will also take a look at examples of both armchair activism and instances of the truly dynamic, integrated use of digital platforms for activism.
