In this article, I explore whether or not people are obligated to post about major world events, as well as the harm of performative activism.
Though social media can shed light on many causes worthy of attention, it also creates an obligation for people to speak on matters. Individuals or corporations with large platforms often feel pressured to make statements, as do plenty of people with smaller followings. Is it callous to post selfies or vacation photos when your friends are sharing about world events that require action and attention? Should we read the room before sharing food pictures or new haircuts during world crises? Are major platforms obligated to comment on serious topics? There are no correct answers to these questions, but there is a conversation to explore. When it comes down to it, our intent is at the heart of sharing information. Are we sharing information to increase social capital or enact change?
The pandemic has altered the way we view many sectors of society. The concept of celebrity has taken a nosedive in the face of a global crisis, as people became focused on survival and coping with isolation and no longer found the world of celebrity worship to be relevant. People have reconsidered their priorities, which has reduced the importance of trivial matters. However, many people still expect individuals with large platforms to speak up on social issues. Commenters express fury and outrage when celebrities stay silent on important matters or only choose to discuss those that personally affect them. But why do we think celebrities owe us any form of explanation or education?
Entertainment workers or comedic Instagram pages should not be the sources that people turn to for world updates and news stories. People express anger when popular pages remain silent, but the reality is that meme accounts aren’t obligated to comment on the news no matter how many people follow them. People shouldn’t decide to vote just because Taylor Swift tweets about it. Of course, there is an inherent privilege and responsibility that accompanies holding a large platform. However, it’s absurd to expect influencers to be sources for human rights issues. We should give spotlights to people who use their platforms to educate others and fight for change if we want celebrities to be role models. However, it’s also alright to enjoy people purely for entertainment.
We shouldn’t be angry if Kylie Jenner doesn’t comment on world issues, because we shouldn’t use her as a reputable news source. If we are upset that she isn’t using her platform to enact world change, then perhaps we should follow other celebrities more worthy of our time and attention. Furthermore, it is justified that people devote their time and energy to advocating for select causes though they ignore other issues. The saying is true: if you stand for no one, how can you expect anyone to stand for you? However, we are doing more harm than good by speaking about causes that we are not thoroughly informed on. Spreading misinformation is more harmful than silence as if advocating for a cause only because you feel social pressure.
Social media pressures people to take sides, but performative activism helps no one. Performative activism involves people commenting on issues not because they want to enact change but because they want to seem like good people for speaking up. These people are more focused on other people’s perceptions of them than their actual devotion to a cause. Such actions can harm causes by burying relevant information under countless reposts that hold no value but to declare which side you are on. Furthermore, many people believe that simply voicing support for a cause is enough to alleviate their guilt even though they contributed nothing of value to that cause. Therefore, people who are not actively furthering a cause are harming the situation by copying peer posts.
We need to care about the rights of people in the world and not turn a blind eye because issues don’t affect us. However, not posting about issues that you are not informed about should be normalized. Sharing a black square does not further the Black Lives Matter cause, but it simply serves to bury useful information that hashtags could deliver. Likewise, people who genuinely want to see change are not the people who are riding their high horses because they retweeted about causes. These people are actively educating themselves and others rather than mimicking their peers for social points. It’s important to advocate for and fight for things that we can change and be mindful of our behavior, actions, language, and perceptions. However, we’re helping no one by sharing comments on causes because they’re trending topics.
At the same time, we can recognize that remaining silent on matters is a privilege. Some people have no choice but to speak up, while others lack a voice altogether because they are drowning. Don’t ignore injustices, especially when they are in front of you. Be aware of your privilege to turn your back on an issue that other people cannot avoid. But you aren’t a bad person if you are focused on enacting change locally and are unable to influence a situation around the world. Be aware of the consequences of your actions, but don’t cave into performative activism. Do what you can to truly help people to the best of your capacity rather than make yourself seem like a good person online.
Additionally, it’s necessary to do what’s best for your mental health when it comes to speaking up about issues of value. For example, the “Me Too” movement provided the first accepted platform for countless people to open up about assault and seek release and support. However, it also made other survivors who did not want to publicly share their stories feel pressured to come forward to validate their experiences. You don’t owe anybody anything when it comes to reliving your traumas on public platforms. Unfortunately, there are often side effects and consequences to coming forward. No one but yourself should be the one to decide what you want to share.
Ultimately it comes down to determining what is best for your mental health, as well as what actions and words can most enact real change, compassion, and justice. We should respect the causes that people are passionate about and not pressure platforms into covering all topics. Avoid spreading misinformation and performative activism, which means there is no point in following trends for social status. People who want to bring about change don’t repost things for personal gain. We should focus instead on educating ourselves and others and speaking on causes we understand. Helpful information to spread includes donations, signing petitions, contacting elected officials, volunteer work, and more. Think of the consequences of what you are sharing- does this information benefit yourself or advocate for a worthy cause?