Instagram Activism: To Post or Not to Post
By Olivia Pfeiffer
Do you ever open up Instagram and check your stories, only to find story after story to be the same thing, a viral video of animal abuse or a human rights violation? Or maybe it’s the same picture over and over promising to plant a tree for every republish. These days, it seems like everyone is an activist for social justice, yet it also creates a social media experience in which people feel pressured to post something in order to go along with the crowd or to fit in.
This is not to target those who choose to use their social media platforms to promote activism, and we have all seen the power of technology in connecting people united around the same cause from all over the world. However, if you do choose to engage in social media activism, there is a way to do so in a way that is more effective in promoting change. Here’s 4 steps to keep in mind when deciding on whether or not to post.
1. Ask Yourself Why You are Posting
From the very beginning, it is important to figure out what your intent is when wanting to post something activism related. Are you doing it out guilt? Are you worried that your friends or peers will believe that you don’t support their cause if you don’t add your two cents in? Will others think you’re a bad person? Trust me, I know the feeling of looking through an instagram feed filled with the latest crisis and feeling guilty that I’m not doing enough. But there’s no reason to let yourself succumb to this peer pressure, and you will not be looked down upon for not posting if you only post out of fear of others.
On the flip side, are you doing it for the clout? Do you think that posting on social media will make people believe you’re a better person? This is just as bad as doing it out of fear or guilt - if not worse. Using activism for selfish intentions eradicates the point of activism, especially when done on a platform like instagram. If you are posting because you truly believe you have something to say, or that there is something important that needs to be shared, then by all means press on.
2. Ask Yourself Who the Post Reaches
Another thing to consider when deciding when to post is your target audience. Who are you trying to reach by posting about this issue? Are you trying to educate those who might not have any idea about the problem? For me, the majority of my friends are already involved in social justice related causes, so education is not necessarily my main intent. However, if you follow a group who has predominantly the same ideas as you, don’t get discouraged. If the post offers some way to donate, or some new information on an ongoing crisis, it is still useful to those who are already actively aware of the problem.
3. Do Your Research - Is this Legitimate?
One of the biggest difficulties with Instagram activism is knowing if what you are reposting is legitimate. Just as you would for any academic paper, check your sources! See that the information is coming from a reputable source -- and no, a tweet is not automatically a reputable source. Spreading false information only serves to create more fear, and doesn’t help to solve the problem.
Furthermore, there is a huge problem with accounts exploiting people for likes or follows. Accounts such as @sudanesemealproject promised to send over 100,000 meals to children in Sudan for every story repost, when in reality they had no connections with aids organizations or the means to donate to those in Sudan. Make sure to check out the original source of the claims of meals donated or trees planted. Is it coming from a verified account? Does this company exist, or are they simply on instagram? Do they have concrete proof that they are linked to a certain organization or have a way to do so? Without legitimate proof that what they are promising will occur, it is fair to be suspicious and look for other accounts that actually practice what they preach.
4. Go Beyond Instagram
If you believe that your work is done the moment you write a feminist quote or republish something from Greta Thurnberg, then you have a rude awakening ahead of you. While instagram activism is good, it is not effective on its own - in fact, it is only of any use of action is taken as a result of it. If you are posting on social media about feminism but refuse to show up to a women’s march, even when it supports the same cause but one requires more effort, no change will be accomplished. If you support planned parenthood but don’t donate when they ask for money (or if you’re a broke college kid, pass it to someone who can) then what is the point in asking for donations in the first place? In the end, instagram activism should be a tool to fuel greater work within your community, but cannot fulfill all the work that needs to be done. If you’re going to talk the talk, you need to be prepared to walk the walk and show up for what you believe in.
At the end of the day, your social media experience is your own - so own it. You are under no obligation to republish a video on climate change, even if you do advocate for environmental protection. You also don’t have to be on top of every crisis at all times - it’s completely draining trying to keep up with the 24/7 news cycle, and totally unsustainable. It is okay to not post for every major news headline, and no one will think less of you because of it.
And if you fully believe in your own social media activism - great! Don’t let anyone claim that adding your voice is irrelevant. However, keep in mind that there are ways to do so effectively and legitimately, in ways that actually help promote change. Remember, the fight doesn’t stop the moment that you close the app, carry your social media activism into your everyday life and be the change you wish to see in the world.
