Clicktivism, Hermes of Digital Activism?

Hermes: Greek God of transitions and boundaries- would also act as a messenger. Clicktivism: the pollution of activism with the logic of consumerism.

Have you ever click 'like' on a Facebook page? Joined a group to support a petition? Double tapped a quote on Instagram or retweeted or favourited something Obama posted?  Well, then you my friend are a Digital Activist. Perhaps a passive one..but still a participant none the less. We've all heard about at least one big story on Digital Activism- the Indian rape victim who's name was posted on Social Media, photos of Saudi Arabian women driving (it's against the law for a woman to drive in Saudi Arabia, among many other countries), Barack Obama taking his campaign to Twitter - just to name a few. There were many who spoke out about these issues/campaigns- celebrities promoting Obama's re-election etc- these, I would say are more assertive participants of Digital Activism. Some may have created blogs about the issue, just to take it that much further, or..some may have clicked 'like' on a page called 'Re-Elect President Obama'. These people are just numbers.. every time someone clicks 'like' the pages tally increases, and whatever/whomever has been 'liked' increases in 'value'. This, is consumerism.

Now..is it any good? Will it help these issues/campaigns? Would these 'likers' support outside of the virtual life and protest in reality? Aaaaand queue the debate. Does Clicktivism really help the cause? Whilst a great number of likers/retweeters would probably not take their support to reality (where it takes a bit more effort than the movement of 1 finger and click of a mouse), their click has spread the word- perhaps to someone who may actually take their support a bit further than a 2 second glance on Facebook. Some may call clicktivsm pollution- and at times, when my home page is full of people liking lolcats images or fight videos, I most definitely agree. But when I find another 'support gay marriage' page- I like and share- hoping that with each page, voices will be heard and a change made.

But that's just it..liking a page won't result in change in the real world. Change requires a bit more effort than that. As Malcolm Gladwell recently said, "activism that challenges the status quo – that attacks deeply rooted problems – is not for the faint of heart". So go ahead, like that page.. but if you really support the issue, take it to the real world. Clictivism spreads the word, but someone needs to make it heard.