Celebrities and Slacktivism

This week's discussion on slacktivism and digital activism was very compelling. I'm still not sure exactly where I stand on the question of whether the concerns about "slacktivism" are valid, but I'm leaning more toward the side of pro-digital activism. One of the biggest benefits of digital activism in my opinion is the ability to reach huge audiences with ease, which authors Nora Madison and Mathias Klang define as visibility. They say, "The ease of transmitting information and the ability to provide spaces for discussion greatly enhances the awareness of political and social issues, which can lead to social and political change." (37)

Visibility is especially easy when the activist in question has a large following, either as an influencer or as a traditional celebrity. I thought of all this when I read this article from Plant Based News: "‘What We Eat Is So Important’: Paul McCartney Urges Followers To Watch ‘Eating Our Way To Extinction’". The story highlights a tweet from Paul McCartney, who has nearly 5 million followers on Twitter, urging readers to watch a documentary about the environmental impact of animal agriculture.

Paul McCartney's tweet is a perfect example of what many would call "slactivism." It's just a simple, single tweet. The tweet is accompanied by a short video of McCartney, but overall it doesn't share original ideas or content -- it's just encouraging others to consume work someone else created. However, I still see the value in posts like these. I feel this tweet is a great example of someone with a huge platform bringing their followers' attention to an important issue. Crucially, McCartney is famous for something other than animal activism, so people who have no interest in animal rights are likely to see his post. In short, something like Paul McCartney's tweet won't change the world, but that doesn't mean it's pointless.