Stephanie Vie examines “slacktivism” in an upcoming online journal article.
According to Vie, the Human Rights Campaign Marriage Equality logo is an important example of how seemingly insignificant moves such as adopting a logo and displaying it online can serve to combat microaggressions, or the damaging results of everyday bias and discrimination against marginalized groups. She suggests that even small moves of support, such as changing one’s Facebook status to a memetic image, assist by demonstrating a supportive environment for those who identify with marginalized groups and by drawing awareness to important causes.
Often dismissed as “slacktivism,” she instead argues that the digital activism made possible through social media memes can build awareness of crucial issues, which can then lead to action.
The article will appear in an upcoming edition of First Monday, one of the first openly accessible, peer–reviewed journals on the Internet, solely devoted to the Internet.