Activists have been fighting for change for centuries, and rightfully so. From Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ rights to the fight against climate change, there are so many communities and causes to advocate for. How you choose to advocate for these changes, however, can make a huge impact on each movement.

With the rise of social media, we’ve seen activism transform from a meaningful action into a trend, often referred to as performative activism. Before you share your next illustrated diagram on Instagram, stop and consider if what you’re doing is performative, or if you’re genuinely advocating for a cause.

What Is An Activist?

At the core, an activist is someone who is deeply committed to fostering change in societal structures. Activists challenge the status quo, question established norms, and look for solutions to societal issues.These individuals also work diligently and participate in activities to make these necessary changes happen. Some activists may use peaceful protests, while others might use writing, advocacy, direct action, or civil disobedience (like Rosa Parks’ bus boycott, for example).

What Is Performative Activism?

Performative activism refers to forms of activism that are done for personal gain rather than for a genuine concern for the cause at hand. While this phenomenon has been evident for decades-worth of social justice issues and movements, in the age of social media, it has become more common. 

Now, those who identify as activists can simply share a post to their Instagram stories about the trending social justice issue and call it a day. Although it’s always beneficial to spread awareness about these issues, if there’s no further action taken beyond a simple post, then it can actually cause more harm to both the movement and the other activists genuinely devoted to the cause.

Individuals are not the only ones that practice performative activism. Major corporations are guilty of following this trend, too. How many times are you scrolling through your social media feeds during the month of June to see that the brands you follow have changed their icons to a Pride-inspired rainbow edition? At surface level, it’s incredible to see huge companies like AT&T, Walmart, and even Google celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. But if you dig a little deeper, these companies also spend hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, organizations, and politicians.

Why Is Performative Activism Harmful?

While sharing a post to your Instagram story may seem harmless, this seemingly innocent action can actually harm the respective issue and movement.

It Can Overshadow Genuine Efforts

If you reflect back to 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, nearly everyone—from our peers to celebrities—was sharing a black square on their Instagram pages for Blackout Tuesday in an effort to mourn and push for policy changes. The #BlackLivesMatter page became flooded with black squares–pushing informational posts from dedicated activists to the side.

Similar to Blackout Tuesday, several trends that have come from social protests have garnered the attention of the public and the media. When these actions are done to bolster reputations rather than to ignite change, it can detract from the hard work of genuine activists. Real change requires persistence, and when the focus is misdirected, it can stall progress.

It Can Spread Misinformation

How many times have you seen the disclaimers on your social media feeds that a post has been removed for featuring misinformation? When individuals practicing performative activism have only a surface level understanding of the issues that they’re trying to support, it can lead to an oversimplification of the complex issues that so many marginalized communities and individuals face everyday of their lives. In the haste to be part of a trend, someone may inadvertently spread incorrect information, which, in turn, can create misconceptions and make the tasks of genuine activists harder.

It Can Tokenize The Communities We’re Fighting For

Tokenization is something that we see often in the corporate world, such as when an employer hires an individual from an underrepresented or marginalized community so that they can show “diversity.” While it’s common in corporate initiatives, it can also occur within social justice movements, political campaigns, and media representation.

Instead of fostering true inclusivity and representation, tokenization can perpetuate existing power imbalances and reinforce stereotypes. This occurrence can be harmful as it fails to address the root causes of inequality and discrimination.

It Leads To Short-Lived Support

Though unfortunate, the reality is that when a social issue is merely viewed as a trend, its support falters out after just a few weeks. This typically occurs once major media outlets quit reporting on the current event. For example, after the Supreme Court overturned the ruling in Roe V. Wade, protests broke out across the globe, from California and New York to France and Australia. While this issue began with great momentum, it too soon became “old news,” and many performative activists returned to their normal lives, abandoning the fight for change. 

This inconsistent support can be detrimental to causes that require prolonged and sustained advocacy to create true change.

How To Avoid Performative Activism

Avoiding performative activism requires intentional reflection and effort. But with these four steps, you can begin your journey to being a genuine activist.

Educate Yourself

Knowledge truly is power. Before you begin publicly advocating for a cause, delve into the issue at hand, including the issue overall, its history, and its nuances. This is the time to build your reading lists, attend workshops and lectures, and research. It’s so important to do independent research–without the expectation that members of the respective marginalized community are obligated to educate you.

Listen & Amplify Marginalized Voices

Activism isn’t always about leading–it can be about listening, too. If you’re advocating for a community that you don’t belong to, listen to what they have to say, rather than speaking for them or over them. Instead, listen to their stories, experiences, and the challenges they endure as part of their community. Doing so can help you learn more about the issues these communities are facing.

Commit To The Cause

The issues marginalized communities face are not a trend. They are real issues that individuals must live with every day of their existence. These issues are also not going to be resolved overnight. Creating change takes a lot of time, energy, and dedication. If you’re advocating for a cause, stay involved in both its highs and lows, during its popularity—while it’s all over your social media feeds—and its obscurity after the momentum dies down.

Get Engaged (Offline)

Social media is a powerful tool, and while it’s a great way to spread awareness, there’s more to creating change than a social media post. Instead, try to get involved in the action. This can look different for everyone. It might be attending a community meeting, volunteering at a local organization, or, it could be directly supporting individuals through donations.

An activist helps illuminate the path for change. It’s not just about believing in a cause, but actively working towards its realization. This work will be difficult, but when you’re a part of the change we so desperately need, the time and energy you dedicated to achieving it will pay off.