The term ‘performative activism’ refers to any form of superficial activism employed by influencers and individuals to increase social prowess and status rather than to promote the ethos of a movement or cause. You may have heard of the concept through some other commonplace epithets like ‘performative
wokeness’, ‘performative allyship’ or ‘slacktivism’, but they all essentially mean the same thing. Without exception, such superficial acts of ‘support’ debase the importance of all social justice movements and morals. This year has marked a revolutionary change in the use of social media platforms for the campaigning of activist movements and social causes which is, in retrospect, perhaps one of the only good things to arise out of 2020. Many influencers have taken to using Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to promote movements such as Black Lives Matter which first gained traction during the George Floyd incident and protests of May earlier in the year. Although this in itself isn’t a violating use of social media, we must be wary of people’s intentions when they post and question whether or not their concern stems from genuine care or veiled self-interest. From reading my introduction, I’d imagine that some of you might be thinking: “Doing ‘surface level’ acts of activism isn’t all that bad – after all, signing petitions and raising awareness is still making a positive impact on current affairs and world cases.” To an extent, I would agree with you. In consideration of our
current circumstances with the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be pretty stupid to argue otherwise. The issue happens, however, when individuals consciously refuse to enact their promoted beliefs in real life. In such circumstances, you are neither an ally or supporter of any movement – quite blatantly, you are a fraud. Changing your Instagram profile picture to a black square on Facebook or posting a black picture on Instagram for Blackout Tuesday, for instance, is great… but if it is the only thing you are doing, you have to ask yourself: are you really accomplishing anything? Carrying out these tasks and subsequently rewarding yourself with a mentality that you fulfilled your ‘activist task for the day’ is damaging to the ethos of the movement you are advocating. These actions act to degrade the efforts carried out by others who truly strive and give of themselves to make an impact. Furthermore, when you start to fearlessly shame others for their perceived ‘lack of interest and care’ for such movements you turn a cause into a competition whereby an ensuing, and pretty abhorrent, match of performative tasks follows to try and prove your ‘wokeness’. Such instances of fake activism only detract from the true messages and intents of social justice movements and act to degrade social advocacy down to its weakest foundations. Take, for instance, talk-show personality Ellen DeGeneres’ tweets in the wake of the George Floyd protests: “People of color in this country have faced injustice for far too long… For things to change, things must change.” As I quote this now deleted tweet, I myself begin to cringe at her statement for its rather obviously indolent attempts at political action. Doing something and yet achieving nothing is perhaps what lies at the crux of performative activism. If you spread and post activist messages on your social media platforms with your biggest worry being what your followers are going to think about your post, it’d probably be in your own best interest to drop the act and do something worthwhile with your time. Think before you do and, if you really are trying to make a difference, act with authenticity and compassion rather than self-interest and apathy. I urge you to carry out your supposed morals and intentions in your day-to-day life, rather than letting the only time you care about a movement be on your Instagram page for Blackout Tuesday. Change can only happen when you are serious about the choices you make and are taking valid strides in the interest of progression and not clicking away at your profile picture, changing it to a solid black screen. Make your voice heard in the right way.
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