Online Activism: What's The Point?

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Is Online Activism Useless?
Online activism has been heralded as the future of expanded freedoms, a cesspool where meaningful action goes to die, and everything in between. But when we “agitate” via Twitter, or call for revolution on Instagram, are we really contributing to change? Or is online activism increasingly futile? Let’s find out in this Wisecrack Edition on Online Activism: A Waste of Time?
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Written by Corrigan Vaughan
Hosted by Michael Burns
Directed by Michael Luxemburg
Edited by William Schwartz
Produced by Olivia Redden and Griffin Davis
Music courtesy of Epidemic Sound
#SocialMedia #Activism #Wisecrack
© 2022 Wisecrack / Omnia Media, Inc. / Enthusiast Gaming

[@WisecrackEDU]

Prioritize your mental health. Get 10% off your first month of therapy: www.betterhelp.com/wisecrack Thank you to BetterHelp for sponsoring this video!

[@MsZeeZed]

You know this video needs comments to be seen?

[@drsebiii2592]

Don’t worry everyone watch the Jewish Rabbi vs Young Pharaoh

[@anadventfollower1181]

It is an inflated anal gland, ready to be popped.

[@auttyauttyoxenfree]

Stop advertising better help. I’m mentally i’ll and I pay dearly for betterhelp and last night my therapist who I haven’t even met yet messaged me after reading my most recent journal entry and told me she isn’t experienced enough to help me and that I should see a psychiatrist…

[@nicolebogda1482]

Being so many states do not support psychological assistance and…tbh~ ppl have NO CLUE it is actually a new LAW ppl are REQUIRED to be tested for anxiety? Yeah. Most have it. Depression post-covid? Yeah, hopefully step 2. The lack of actual education or seeking “help?” Soooo much bs online it is so hard to find education & truth. Reinstating mental health coverage to all? I feel could smash out a large % of crime. Increasing expectations from education & enacting tutors available to all?? 🎉💯🙌🙏🙏🙏 politics & humanity disappoint as classes,education, finances, etc are further separated. Huge topic for a short vid- but ty for the kick- off!❤

[@Weaponator18]

Online activism is only good for assembling people. If that assembly isn't immediately followed by boots on the ground gestures (ie, things like protesting in the real world) the online "effort" is hollow at best and disingenuous at worst.

[@edumazieri]

I'm not sure anymore, I think the effectiveness of "boots on the ground" is also diminishing a bit too unfortunately. It used to be those very engaged people, who demanded change and were willing to go to great lenghts, that would put their boots on the ground, but now it's so normalized to go out and shout somewhere that whoever has their hands on the levers and buttons doesn't rly need to care much if there's a rabble in front of their office. It sorts itself out, as the focus shifts to the next rabble-rousing topic next week. This normalization may even create another problem, where people go to a protest once every couple months, and then they feel good enough about themselves that they don't feel like they need to do anything more.

[@jose.montojah]

Almost as if... _lifelong, continous learning_ or _social appropiation of knowledge_ are against the grain of a society organizing through power structures, fame, money, raised in hypocrisy, under modernism, a system of lies leading to death. Bad customers and terrible workers, do these civilian philosophers make. A mammonic babel maze. So keep the pace of the century going! Full _agnotology_ on, keep the hurry and the rush on information, the bombardment and underanalysis, the spectacle, simulacra and simulations everywhere, under a general disconnection of events, ideas, histories and contexts. Disconnection of efforts and wills

[@lebaronmarcus]

​@@edumazieri I know what you mean. I think street protests are useful as an antidote to our society's atomization, that is, it helps us feel we're part of a social movement even though the rest of the time we're alone at home shaking our fist at our screens. But like you said, the powerful can simply ignore street protests unless they go together will more forceful political or economic pressure like boycotts, strikes, or anti-establishment election campaigns

[@christiandauz3742]

Guess we need another Bloodsoaked Revolution

[@thompsonnoel]

best thing to do would be to occupy the buildings owned by firms like Blackstone and putting them on service to the community. But if that poses problems here in Spain I shudder to think what draconian laws you have against building-occupying movements in the states

[@guybunchofnumbers123]

It's a circlejerk to make yourself FEEL accomplished, most online activism/black squares/hashtags mean absolutely nothing

[@arkology_city]

Also to get in-group approval. They're called virtue signals for a reason.

[@aSSGoblin1488]

you can affect the world and be positive through the internet. like example, free bleeding is a great movement for empowering women

[@caixiuying8901]

I never participated in the black squares because I saw it as too easy to use in a way that is performative, though I'm sure some people meant well It's not that online activism means nothing, it's that it does nothing There's better ways to actually get in the trenches and help the systemically disadvantaged (god what a euphemism lmao, but it's at least a clinical one)

[@caixiuying8901]

@@arkology_city I agree that it's meant to get in-group approval, but what's more concerning is that people across the entire political spectrum seem to do it

[@mightymoeish]

Online activism is the worst because of the sloganeering. How does yelling a slogan at someone over and over change their mind?

[@shivandragon1651]

Its apart of cult ideology if you repeat something over and over you'll grow to not belive but become more complacent to it

[@RuneDrageon]

@@shivandragon1651 No, its basic advertisement. The slogans are supposed to get you interested, that's why they are usually accompanied with images to get sympathy. Then you are cognizant of it and suggested to learn more about the issue its about, which when we'll presented can change your mind to support the issue actively or at the next election.

[@shivandragon1651]

@@RuneDrageon exactly our advertising uses cult tactics to sell things to us, and it makes us more complacent to buy those things from them inspecific, those people who are doing the advertising are the same people setting up these so called protests to sow division in us so we can't unify

[@kyzonm.b.9615]

@@RuneDrageon slogans are not bombarded onto the consumer's face, they are put at the end of any advertisement as the final nail to convince the consumer. Online however, the user will spent at most 3 seconds before scrolling away, so advertisement changed to just make sure the consumer knows that the product is an option. bombarding someone with this kind of advertisement will just drive him away from the product. I'll use myself as an example, I agree with the statement "trans rights are human rights" because it is true, they are human and they deserve respect, but I've seen that phrase be bombarded and completely be missused in any opportunity imaginable to the point of my brain not wanting to associate to anybody who repeats the phrase like clockwork.

[@RuneDrageon]

@@kyzonm.b.9615 That is why I said it's basic advertising, it's usually not coordinated by an overarching strategy, so you get loads of people agreeing parroting the phrases. Btw, that's also my main criticism of online activism, it often lacks the 'active' component. Previously you had to get out, prepare and organize your protests. Take the time out of your day to spend it for an issue you thought deserved more attention and needed to be addressed. That was what really convinced people that it was serious, that people took their free time to do this instead. Online activism lacks all this and people noticed, so it has much less of a bite. It has it's uses, but it won't convince many that it's serious.

[@BlakeFaeMorton]

It's worth noting that for many people online activist is all they can do. The immunocompromised, the disabled, or those without safe systems of activism have always had few options to engage in traditional outdoors activism and the internet does provide a vehicle to allow such voices to be heard.

[@Alex_Barbosa]

I'm afraid of being shot, which is very possible in the part of Alabama I live in. So I do small covert things like provide food and plant seeds of doubt in people.

[@shirley444]

I seen people put their lives on the line for movements who are immune compromised, disabled etc. online activism does nothing for the cause except creates a toxic environment for pick me culture and FOMO as major events are treated like trends

[@Beastjon21]

Online activism is (imo) the laziest form of activism because you dont have to do anything. On another hand i think it can help spread a message that needs to be spread. Sadly people lose touch online that it just devolves to people calling other people stupid and that has never worked out in history.

[@theaccountable]

I love that you and second thought both shared philosophical factual takes on why politics has corrupted the Internet 👏🏽 seems to be the theme for today.

[@WisecrackEDU]

Always happy to be thinking along the same lines of another channel we love.

[@theaccountable]

@@WisecrackEDU agreed! Thanks for making dope content, you guys have a great weekend.

[@T_Dot94]

@@WisecrackEDU Loved to see you do a second thought video during the livestream

[@jose.montojah]

Almost as if... _lifelong, continous learning_ or _social appropiation of knowledge_ are against the grain of a society organizing through power structures, fame, money, raised in hypocrisy, under modernism, a system of lies leading to death. Bad customers and terrible workers, do these civilian philosophers make. A mammonic babel maze. So keep the pace of the century going! Full _agnotology_ on, keep the hurry and the rush on information, the bombardment and underanalysis, the spectacle, simulacra and simulations everywhere, under a general disconnection of events, ideas, histories and contexts.

[@zerologic7912]

The internet has also corrupted politics (far more than it was already)

[@WillDraco]

Say what you like, but sometimes the most valuable sentence one can hear is "You are not alone."

[@virn333]

Guys, if you want to actually change things, you have to do it in the real world. Especially with the way social media is designed, it's just a screaming abyss.

[@wwanca3771]

social media can be helpful for disabled people since not everyone can do the work in the real world

[@Danimal4321]

@@wwanca3771 If you're 500 pounds and can't get out of your bed, maybe you have bigger things to worry about.

[@virn333]

@@wwanca3771 that's true, but even then disabled people can provide support through many ways. It's amazing what people can do when determined enough.

[@SerifSansSerif]

The irony of this comment on the internet is not lost on me.

[@Shinkajo]

But they don't actually want to change anything. They just want to feel important with minimal effort.

[@covle9180]

Honestly it's hard to stay engaged to any movement for more than a few days. There's just so much that's on fire that supporting anything just feels like emptying a small fire extinguisher in a forest fire.

[@sketchygetchey8299]

This is the epitome of the “this calls for immediate discussion” sketch from Life of Brian.

[@hoshi314]

self-satisfaction AKA when the kid in starship troopers said "i'm doing my part too!" it achieves nothing but self-satisfaction

[@tygerchickchibi]

8 minutes since this posted... And a lot of confident responses... How has everyone watched it so fast? XD

[@__-tz6xx]

Setting the video to play at two times faster I would guess?

[@tygerchickchibi]

@@__-tz6xx !!!

[@tygerchickchibi]

I just finished watching it, and it goes without saying that it isn't that black and white, lol

[@grey_wolf_tg2235]

I think spreading the message does have merit, as long as it's truth based. But social media is polarizing people and making them mistrustful.

[@troywalkertheprogressivean8433]

Not social media, but abuse of social media, as in the government and/or the rich flooding social media with mis/disinformation/propaganda.

[@krunkle5136]

Indeed. It enables also people to easily block what they don't want to hear, regardless of the positions. Happens everywhere. There's no real discourse or ideologically touching grass.

[@breakingboundaries3950]

@@krunkle5136 what’s ideologically touching grass mean? Genuinely j curious

[@TibiConstantine]

@@breakingboundaries3950 maybe it means that their ideology needs a breath of fresh air🤣

[@madhippy3]

I believe online activists keep me informed on current scandals and controversies, but I don't know where my local protests are. That doesn't make it through the filters to me so in the end I just retweet and share and that ends up being the scope of my activism.

[@reybladen3068]

Social media has it's purpose. It's a good way to disperse information and persuade people to join your cause. But actual organizing in the real world is needed if change is to be achieved.

[@blue_wolfproductions12]

Exactly

[@cymatic3013]

Your just hooked

[@supersam5802]

id argue it acts as a catalyst for interacting with difficult subjects. they may not be effective on there own but interacting and learning about stuff like blm and metoo lead me to learn about these issues i was otherwise fully ignorant too when i was growing up. Could they be replaced with newer movements and we still see similar results, probably, but we need something of a social movement and having a catalyzing point will make that alot more effective.

[@Chrolllo.]

Fair point

[@jinxed7915]

Yeah, even as someone who is pretty skeptical about slacktivism (especially depending on what form it takes), there is something to be said about how simply raising and increasing awareness on issues does help, because people can't fight against what they don't know or simply believe is an exaggerated issue. I wish the video raised this point, because while that raised awareness absol-fucking-utely should be followed up with actual protest and pressure on politicians, it is still an important first step.

[@7StringBlazer]

12:47 "Brands and corporations supposedly engaging in activism are actually harming the causes they claim to champion." I've actually thought this exact thing a lot for several months now. I believe that activism in the sense of protecting the environment, making sure that people are safe and able to thrive regardless of creed, race, religion, sexuality, gender etc is genuinely good, the problem comes with the propaganda (not just left or right leaning) that Hollywood, the games industry, brands and news push currently. Instead of educating someone who doesn't fully understand or might not be fully onboard with a cause, you're talked down to and virtue signaled to. I can be a really cynical guy when it comes to society, but I believe that most everyday people, even nowadays, are open to new types of people they're not used to, but no one likes being browbeaten which is the approach most pop and media outlets take. If humanity as a whole was a single human, almost all of our media and brands are akin to a cancer or autoimmune disorder where the body attacks itself but doesn't know why. As goofy and cliche as it sounds most are so polarized and galvanized by beliefs now because we can't unplug and consider nuance in topics.

[@JBBost]

As far as social movements go, the most important thing to remember is to keep the center good and know which way the power flows. It's not the easiest thing to check your ego at the door but the work is absolutely worth it.

[@jakechinatown]

The center used to be having slaves but being nicer to them. You're wrong, people like you are in the way of progress.

[@jose.montojah]

Almost as if... _lifelong, continous learning_ or _social appropiation of knowledge_ are against the grain of a society organizing through power structures, fame, money, raised in hypocrisy, under modernism, a system of lies leading to death. Bad customers and terrible workers, do these civilian philosophers make. A mammonic babel maze. So keep the pace of the century going! Full _agnotology_ on, keep the hurry and the rush on information, the bombardment and underanalysis, the spectacle, simulacra and simulations everywhere, under a general disconnection of events, ideas, histories and contexts.

[@4-kathryn]

It depends... I'm subscribed to ClimateTown and that KZbin creator encouraged his viewers to email folks in big news corporations to cease big oil funding them. He did a good job providing links to email them in the description area. Shortly after watching, I emailed PBS and told them in my own words to find new funding partners that weren't apart of the gasoline industry. I felt good afterwards and I'd wouldn't describe what I felt as slack-worthy.

[@blablabla3b]

I’m surprised he did bring up a certain activist group that was spending money on cars, parties and 3 million dollar homes in Beverly Hills 🤔

[@libertyfp]

Thanks for making this video. I've been thinking about this a lot and this gave me some things to think about.

[@AS-my3sw]

Many great points in this video. However, physically showing up at protests is not the only form, or even main form of activism. I'm a petite woman with kids that are too young to be left by themselves. I never was nor will ever be the type to march, protest, or go door to door to discuss politics. I participate by voting and unlike my younger self- I vote everytime and research all candidates. Non voters are still the largest bloc in this country and we are coming off several decades of apathy towards voting, especially if it's not a big one like Pres or Senator. 10 years ago, I never voted in the primaries and I never bothered with local politics, now I do.

[@ChineduOpara]

You're doing your best. Everyone can do something, and they don't all have to be the same thing

[@thodoriss3068]

I have always thought online activism like riots. Sometimes it can serve a good purpose, but too much and mindless participation is detrimental to the change we want to make.

[@TibiConstantine]

Some people like to really jump on the bandwagon, gives them a purpose of community and belonging and some really don't know what they are actually protesting for.

[@thodoriss3068]

@@TibiConstantine True. They also use it as a way to release their frustrations and that's what hurts their cause most. Because once they do so, they feel better and continiou as before, without trying for a true change.

[@chassegunter6915]

I think you hit on all the most.imooetsnt points. When i was doing activism work it was pulling teeth to get some of the older folks to even consider social media...and actually the same struggle to get younger people to engage any more than simple on social media. Over time i just consodered it one of several useful tools for getting things done. Namely spreading the word about events and recruitment. Which was useless without then reaching out personally to get people involved. Maybe one on ten i might get digitally which was upped slightly by reaching out. But those one on ten i wouldn't have originally had. So there's that

[@stupidsquirrel12]

Really wish Wisecrack could find another sponsor. BetterHelp has been caught time and time again doing very shady shit w/ client's data. Also horrible treatment plans, if any are even made. Profit driven and actively harming people. Wisecrack can do better than that.

[@stupidsquirrel12]

(**this video was fantastic by the way, in no way hating. I'm a long time fan. 🖤)

[@puddleglum666]

Couple important things that are missing here: The labor movement existed long before 1890 The occupy movement predates Kony 2012. It was born out of a hashtag and made a much larger real life impact than Kony 2012 I feel like both of these things are hella worth at least a mention, particularly the latter

[@dianac9651]

I would say, it all depends. I love this channel, challenges the way we see things in such a beautiful way!

[@theimpulsivevulcan5346]

Are you saying it all depends, or is that something you would say if some condition were met? On what does it depend?

[@naftalibendavid]

Whew! Great timing. Forwarding.

[@LuziFearon]

You've left out the best part, there was a Kony 2012 Protest in Sydney where thousands of people registered to attend and only like 10 appeared. Thats couch activism and twitter outrage forever for me. If it wasn't for the victims of sexual abuse to start #MeToo, the twitter slaktivists would have done nothing to help (except to retweet.. which is worthless IRL)

[@blueredlover1060]

Except those same "activists" actively banned men from the hashtag. The men that were telling their very real stories of decisions abuse by other men but also women. The "activists" disliked the mere concept that men could be abused in the same way. It led directly to a counter tag of #mentoo. One that should have been completely pointless because the original tag could encompass all stories.

[@breakingboundaries3950]

@@blueredlover1060 so to the March of progress is slow, but has come so far, as it was always meant to be. I believe one merit of slacktivism is information, which has a way of changing minds to make change in our everyday lives, which influences our cultural zeitgeist to make changes for the better. We know what sexual assault looks like now, and we are aware of the power structures which can foster toxic workplace interactions, which Id argue is a good thing The way men are affected by the patriarchy is also being discussed with the rise of red pill culture and men’s rights activism, transparency about men who are raped by women etc.

[@ForDBssake]

I have nothing to add here but comments drive engagement.

[@amandacoelho9524]

Same here 👋🏻

[@WisecrackEDU]

the game is the game, and we appreciate your service.

[@spooky-soap]

I think this is how the ebb & flow of social change works, the media has to be changed first which then eventually changes the broader view of society

[@softnoobgirl73]

One thing about social media activism is accessibleity. Especially for disabled people. I'm disabled myself im atustic and I know that if I joined an irl protest in the streets I would likely have a meltdown due to overstimulation. Plus what about those who are incontinent due to due to disabilities or can't stand and March for hours on end. Many Disabled can't March in protest so how else can those people fight for their rights other than online

[@grayrook8637]

It is worth saying in the midst of this discussion that this all is being scrutinized on a very limited time scale. While our society is on hyper speed in terms of discussion, actual systemic change is slow, while actually recognize able changes in public perception move at a snails pace. It will take a good bit longer for us to overcome literally hundreds of years of public discussion around race and stuff. I always say that people are smart, The People (like us as a population) are dumb as a sack of hammers.

[@r3bs]

This.

[@123shotas]

Lemme get my tomato soup and super glue

[@anubratoroy749]

Seriously, great video!! The script of this video is masterful👍👍

[@helenab2520]

Oh, hearing the beginning was a true pain.

[@llydrsn]

"Raising awareness: the term people in the future use for when you are too lazy to actually fix a problem, so you just tell yourself that publicly whining about it is good enough" - Lutheran Satire

[@SmokeyLaBear]

KZbin ads, a sponsored ad, AND a mid-roll patreon plug? C'mon Wisecrack, you're better than that.

[@WisecrackEDU]

We gotta keep the lights on somehow.

[@SmokeyLaBear]

I've been really frustrated with the state of youtube ever since the industry standard became assaulting the audience with both youtube ads and sponsored ads. Creators didn't do that back in 2019. That's an idea for a Wisecrack video right there: the overcommercialization of youtube

[@vomidesinge4697]

@@SmokeyLaBear Brave browser / YT adblocker brother... and contribute elsewhere if you value the project ;)

[@DeathToMockingBirds]

This video covers so much ground!

[@raymondraymond3207]

This isn't a problem with social media activism it's a problem with activism in general. We're just cherry picking social media because it's a public forum. I've gotten involved in many things,mostly offline and the same problems exist in those spaces as well. No empathy for others and definitely no desire to make sure freedom and rights are being upheld equally across the board.

[@trixiedanielle8867]

This makes me remember Brita from Community.

[@Ergotistical]

I nearly had a spit-take listening to a dude explain his “super serious political work taking up his personal life” which amounted to “guy online upvoting and reposting Fetterman, listens to Chapo Traphouse and memorizes others’ talking points to repeat in mixed groups”. Only volunteered in real life at animal shelters to pick up women. So much slacktivism is about learning the right language and topics to push clout and manipulate others

[@ignatiusjackson235]

The problem is that only pet causes are promoted by the algorithms on social media. Any formalized groups who fashion themselves around virtuous statements against the military and economic status quo are swiftly marginalized, by way of pulling adverts for instance [as mainstrem outlets like CNN are fundamentally protected by algorithmic promotion, removing public dislikes, etc.], while "progressive" causes about social issues [sexuality, racism; the ones that don't affect the bottom line - incidentally the most divisive ones... hmmm... What a great way to break solidarity among the working class!] are selectively promoted by these same algorithms. Online campaigns work very effectively among the 20% or so of the population on Twitter, but the rest of the population doesn't belong to that echo-chamber, so they don't always succeed. This process is greatly exacerbated, of course, when increasingly new and abstract "causes" (LGBTQ) are intrinsically tied to more traditional struggles (racism/labor). When the normies think that all activists are nuts, then all activism is affected negatively. It's not that complicated, people.

[@matarax]

That's the thing, are you activating for the actual goal, or to make yourself feel better? I was doing A/V for an interpretation company at the UN in 2010 when the Invisible Children were making their case at the UN and all I can remember is that it was complicated and not as easy to know what was right at the time. I remember being in a class in 2012 and someone started bringing it up and it blew up all over. And I thought this was too clean to be good. Then it disappeared. And this happens all the time and I just got cynical about everyone getting so mad at a cause, no matter where you stand on issues, when I am like, what about the tons of stuff you are not looking at or unknowingly doing harm to your own causes? That's why don't make it about you, but if do your homework, beat up your arguments with critical thinking, and stop getting emotional right away, you might (and only might) get to something tangible to real change. It's not sexy, but real change is not about how you feel, it's about what the best move is to make for the goal you intend, and you STILL may be wrong. That's why no one should have all the power. We all have weak points and blind spots. But recognizing that is the first step in overcoming them.

[@rodylermglez]

Stay distracted and watch ads is today's "bread and circuses".

[@Quader417]

I think as long as it is informed, productive conversation taking place, and before it is co-opted by corporations it is productive

[@EvilPanda187]

Great video!

[@danielt6219]

The map is not the territory. The internet shows us maps of the causes that are promoted but like maps they only show a small level of information and connection that you can have when you are actually on the territory

[@ArturVarejao]

Social media rage have the same impact as dropping the penny for a homeless, makes you sincerely heal your social blame but does not solve anything

[@loreleimonn3220]

Watching this right after watching the newest PhilosophyTube video has given me a lot to talk about in therapy next week

[@sarayusarayu832]

“Stay distracted and watch ads” lol

[@rylansato]

I’d hardly call the online stuff activism since it’s mostly people just posting to make themselves feel good. They’ll post their little black square because they want to look like the good guy by supporting the latest uninformed outrage. I haven’t seen those black squares since.

[@weewee123456]

Does Wisecrack share their sources? It would be great to do some further reading

[@elliotnicklinmusic]

The issue is the incentivising of the bitesized and the immediate, rather than the long form and the thoughtful/nuanced. All because of the capital at its core; when the scales are limitless the economies must deal with the frequency of things in finite spaces (attention) rather than units.

[@anthonyvillanueva5226]

I'd go out and protest if my damn social didn't give me a breakdown every time

[@nolanfroese9164]

Well being an activist isn't always good. It doesn't mean you're right and it doesn't mean you're well informed even if you're well intended.

[@theletterw3875]

Tgif has a new meaning when henry is on the job Edit: Dang, producer Schwartz has entered the competition!

[@WisecrackEDU]

#HenryHive

[@WundaFuzz]

Isn't this just commonly referred to as "Slacktivism" where you have to only put out the least amount of effort and time to not make an actual change but to portray the idea that you are making change or actually care about the thing you are "protesting" about. I would bet there is a strong number of people involved in online protesting and activism that are only there for the dopamine shot but portray a very different attitude in real life, possibly even being diametrically opposed to the very thing they are portraying in their online persona. It becomes a game of who can push the other to the furthest point to get a real time reaction of some kind.

[@helpyourcattodrive]

So good.

[@CobaltContrast]

Omg my church had us all watch this. We were such hype and stupidity for children of yuganda.

[@winkletter]

"Stay distracted and watch ads." You know how to sweet-talk the KZbin algorithm.

[@Aaron-kj8dv]

I don't think it's completely pointless because companies do make an effort to ban protests that they don't like (the trucker's protest in Canada), if there was zero threat to those in power then they would let it happen because it gives the feeling that you're doing something without actually doing anything.

[@michaelkilliany1472]

Best part for me was a commercial break to Nestle asking what do these words even mean?

[@wendel5868]

Basically all tweets are made by 1/4 of the users. It explains a lot.

[@foucaultsboomer-ang2600]

Which social movement wasn’t followed by a backlash and/or backsliding?

[@The_Infamous_Boogyman]

Other than attempting to spread knowledge and hope for a change for the better, it doesn't seem to do anything other than piss people off. At least from my experiences.

[@socialanarchy081]

I think we reach a point where we finally realize the futility of our digital indignance, get off our butts, and hit the streets to protest.

[@janettemasiello5560]

They protest in Brazil in France Berlin and Italy. Even Iran ! I think Biden's weaponized DOJ and the fate of the J6 political prisoners is making people afraid to get out there. And this is a country that was Built on a revolt against tyranny. This is just Sad.

[@andydechamplain]

love the shirts

[@jacobfeldman1994]

Who had Burns saying something negative about Disney of their Wisecrack bingo card?? But for real great video as usual, maybe bring back Culture Binge and talk about it in depth. Pleaseeeeeee :)

[@bluespacecadet]

Online activism turns human rights campaigns into a trend. People will tweet their support for a month or two and then never speak of it again. It's quite sad

[@merbst]

Wasn't BetterHelp the subject of a recent Illuminaughti video?

[@LoganLS0]

I spend a lot of time arguing with Commies on the internet. It's more of a hobby than a serious form of activism.

[@beemarron3642]

Social movement theorist here! This same argument could be applied to the many forms of peaceful protest that have taken place throughout history, but in person. Here's the thing, peaceful protests don't often lead to the 'window of opportunity' which can lead to change. For something to be a window of opportunity, it has to be pretty big. Historically, that can mean the involvement of violence and destruction - but not even that always leads to meaningful change. You're right, social media is just another tool, and if it means more people get politically engaged or educated (in the right way), then I'd say it's a pretty good tool.

[@LearnWithBahman]

As an Iranian American , I thanks everyone that shared and talked about Mahsa Amini. She was arrested and murdered by religious morality police of Iran's government. We lost hundreds of protesters so far. Hopefully we topple the regime and we get our freedom back.

[@brantjustilian3791]

The Kony movement sounds very similar to Alex Rider crocodile tears book plot.

[@ShawnRavenfire]

In my opinion, one of the biggest problems with activism on Twitter is the character limit. Many of the social, political and economic problems in our society are too complex and nuanced to be summed up in 250 characters, so we tend toward oversimplification, or worse, catch-phrases. "Defund the police" isn't really a solution, but a twenty-page proposal for how to specifically reallocate public funding to programs as needed won't fit into a tweet.

[@oopsy444]

for brands that claim to be supporting a cause it should be easy to sue for false advertising esp when its hollow. unfortunately its not done enough to keep them in place

[@jalengoode3266]

By itself online activism doesn’t do anything, but that’s not the point. It’s advertising for the actual activism, and is usually step 1 of a thousand to get to the point of organizing something. If a million people see a post that says “I think this thing is wrong and we should do something about it” and only 1% of them actually do something, that’s still 10,000 people that got mobilized to action. Yeah a retweet is the barest of minimums, but a lot of people do more than that and it helps to eventually increase the numbers that do go above and beyond

[@lolshark99b49]

But if you don't participate (post a black square on your Instagram, etc) you get blacklisted. Especially if you're in something like academia

[@TibiConstantine]

or use the Ukraine flag.

[@HoJackson2011]

as mentioned in the video, movement may take years or decades. I think activism in the digital world has a part to play. it just doesn't produce result as fast as people would like/expect.

[@jahcode6132]

ngl I didn't know what the jackin it in San Diego was a reference to thanks for letting me know wisecrack

[@WisecrackEDU]

glad to be of service

[@hughjudge5403]

Uh

[@jay-t1030]

Selective outrage at is best.

[@davidknightx]

America is a civil oligarchy and almost no one knows how that works, and far less understand the level of sacrifice it would take to break it up. So it doesn't matter what you do. Things are going to only get worse for Americans.

[@Liam-rn1qb]

That Kony 2012 story is fuckin wild, check out Internet Historian's video about it if you haven't yet.

[@6thwilbury2331]

+100. Also, Jason Russell wasn't jacking off. He was just naked and being generally weird.

[@EricTD1995]

I remember that. Internet Historian is awesome and funny.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I am not surprised that trial by publicity, cancel culture, and so many ridiculous acronyms and hashtags will be a norm as long as the internet exists. Freedom of speech is always a double-edged sword.

[@cheesemakerkeesee395]

Bro you stole that thumbnail from the cover of "understanding social problems 11th edition" and photoshop'd in a cell phone 😆 🤣 😂 😹 This is actual gold

[@RawEditPodcast]

If i used a clip of this, in my video would I get a copyright strike

[@gabrielgodoi4565]

Sometimes i find gems on youtube, browsing; like this channel.

[@Demonicus_Prime]

extra long ad ends @2:14

[@contentweaverz2438]

It is same reason that took mankind to invent the wheel after thousands of years to invent wheel. People rather talk about celebrities and politicians rather than worry about their economic and financial rights.

[@donalddeluxe6407]

Me watching as Twitter and Facebook are dying: *LET THE FLAMES BURN HIGHER*

[@britanyatwood9319]

So do I share this or is it pointless??? I'm doing it anyway

[@xlro8f853]

I lie to think it’s about awareness.

[@iilikecereal]

I mean, it did change my perspective on a ton of shit over the course of the past decade so it's good for that as well

[@antonioyeats2149]

The interesting thing is what democracy founders knew from the beginning: true unadulterated democracy is rule by mob and therefore undemocratic. It's almost paradoxical but as of yet, we have no way for everyone to successfully have their own way

[@nickneuharth]

Didn’t even mention the arab spring. Tisk tisk tisk

[@christopherross8358]

Andor said it best, "No one is listening".

[@helpyourcattodrive]

Slactivism! Exactly.

[@2xc4u67]

Honestly I’m just tired of seeing random people complaining screaming and being so rude with their beliefs that it’s reaching a point that I just don’t care about what they are fighting I just want to live my life and for them to realize that they need to stop yelling.