Unlike past generations, modern technology has equipped today’s youth with new tools for young activists. A key strength of social media is its ability to connect with individual and global movements overcoming geographical divides. Social media developed as a game-changing tool for youth activism, reshaping how to support political and social causes. Youth activists utilise platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as convenient and impactful channels to spread awareness, build momentum, and gather support. With the help of Hashtags, online communities and viral campaigns social media has facilitated opportunities for activism, giving individuals around the world the chance to contribute to movements like #MeToo, #FridayForFortune, #ClimateStrike, #BlackoutTuesday and #StopAsianHate and so on. The #FridayForFortune movement, under Greta Thuberg’s leadership, illustrates the reach of digital activism. The movement leverages social media to extend globally, uniting millions of young people from 150 countries to demand climate action. This success highlights how social media can convert a regional campaign into an international movement with a significant impact.
Based on the findings from the report published in 2019 by the Pew Research Center, according to their research, 67% of adults between the ages of 18-29 expressed their views on social and political issues. This figure displays social media’s widespread influence and reach in shaping youth participation in public conversation. In a similar fashion, the World Economic Forum noted in the 2021 report that with the help of social media over 70% of people worldwide have been able to engage in activism amplifying their contribution to major issues like climate change and gender inequality. Moreover, social media also enables activism without significant expenses. As reported by the International Journal of Communication, social media activism is much less than traditional advocacy, making it accessible to the broader population. Movements like #Metoo had gained momentum thanks to cost-effectiveness and accessibility for sharing online stories, raising awareness of sexual harassment and leading to global legal and societal reforms.
Yet, online activism has its benefits, and questions about its true impact remain a question. In 2020, UNESCO reported that nearly 50% of the global population is still without an internet connection, underlining a pronounced digital divide. In Addition, the first spread of misinformation, the phenomena of “slacktivism” and the ‘digital divide’, where individuals offer superficial online support without genuine involvement, prompt concern about the long-term efficiency of the social media activism. Despite the benefits, social media-based activism has notable drawbacks, with misinformation that unverified details, especially on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, might lead to misunderstanding, and can damages the effectiveness of activism and reduces faith in social media as a platform for genuine communication.
Additionally, the phenomena of ‘Slacktivism’ hamper the success of online activism. Although sharing hashtags or content can boost awareness, such efforts often do not translate into concrete real-world results. The #BlackoutTuesday campaign in 2020, where users shared black squares on Instagram to support black lives matter. Many critics argued that although took part; it lacked genuine involvement and contribution, resulting in activism that was largely symbolic and ineffective in driving real change. The digital divide is another pressing issue. Despite the global reach of social media, a 2020 UNESCO report indicated that 3.7 billion people, especially in underserved regions, still don’t have internet issues. This divide curtails the inclusiveness of online activism, with many marginalized communities unable to participate or benefit from global social movements. Without addressing these gaps, the activism on social media becoming an exclusive space for the digital privileged, sidelining those who lack connectivity. Therefore, despite its ability to boost marginalized voices and stimulate significant movement, its shortcomings must be resolved to maximize its role as a tool for activism. Connecting online and offline activism social media has dramatically reshaped youth activism, providing new opportunities for global engagement, increasing awareness, and strengthening community connections. Nonetheless, it is important to be aware of the limitations of social media. The challenges of misinformation, slacktivism, and the digital divide significantly impact the long-term obstacle to the enduring success of social media activism. To overcome these challenges, combining online advocacy with practical offline activities to complement digital activism with concrete, offline initiatives, making sure that transforming online engagement is effective into real-world outcomes.
Furthermore, it is important to advance media literacy for young individuals to mitigate misinformation and support better decision-making. To make social media activism truly inclusive it is very important to work on spreading internet access over marginalized groups. By Implementing these changes, social media can evolve into a more impactful and ethical platform for youth-led change.
Biranchi Narayan P. Panda (Ph.D, M.Phil, LLM) is Associate Professor (Law) at Xavier Law School and Karina Kumari Biswal is Public Policy and Governance (PPG) at XIM University Bhubaneswar