Can Hashtags Really Make A Change? The Real Impact of Hashtags Activism

In the digital era, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, so that the majority of us honestly can’t live without wake up in the morning and scrolling at least three social media at a time. The harsh reality of the situation cannot be denied, although, as someone says, every cloud has a silver lining. Actually, if you take a look at your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account, between a video of dogs doing the snoot challenge (the challenge involves a dog sticking its snout into the space between a person’s fingers, which can be shaped into a circle, heart or triangle, in case you were wondering…) and a “try not to laugh challenge” with funny cats playlist, you’ve probably noticed a formidable use of #hashtags to spread ideas, opinions and information on global social issues.

In fact, the use of hashtags on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in your posts, not only help you to increase your visibility (yes, I’m sure we all know #followforfollow, #instagood and such like), but can help users to spread a significant activism for social movements.

Over the past few years, the so-called ‘hashtags activism’ has definitely shaped the way in which we perceived hashtags. This term has been coined for the first time by The Guardian in 2011, to explain the Occupy Wall Street protests and, the related hashtag movement #OccupyWallStreet, has become viral. Since then, the internet community of activists has created a real social movement, with thousand of hashtags to share information and raise their voices.

Just think about how memorable movements like #MeToo, #NeverAgain, #BlackLivesMatter and #ClimateChange have seen a so widespread and international coverage in the past years.

All this social commitment sounds really admirable, but can a hashtag really make a difference?

If you are a real social-media-maniac geek, you should have absolutely poured a bucket of ice-cold water down the back of your neck during the summer of 2014, using the hashtag #IceBucketChallenge. That hashtag was created with the aim of raising money and awareness for ALS. But did you even remember this? Or you've just enjoyed watching the way people react to it on social media? If you answered 'yes' to the second question, you got the point.

On one hand it’s undeniable that the activism on social media has increased the awareness on sensitive issues, but on the other hand, has brough up controversial drawbacks which need to be considered. In this regard, the Ice Bucket Challenge was derided as 'slacktivism', a term which indicate the way in which people feel virtuous using hashtag, without actually putting any effort. Some critics question “whether hashtag activism leads to real change, as users are simply indicating that they care, rather than taking specific action to make a difference”.

Now, we can argue that the internet activism is definitively a powerful tool to enable a faster and more effective communication, other than increase awareness on complex matters. Then, are real in-person protest stronger than just online activism? Yes, they probably are.

In short, whether it’s online or you decide to get your face out there, these human interactions are crucial to remind to our communities, our neighbours and even to ourselves, that we’re not alone.