Stop the Scroll: Navigating the Grey Zone of Social Media Activism
The Grinch and I do not condone any online “isms.” Meme credit: Tenor.com
Social media exists quite solidly in a grey zone for me. From love to hate and somewhere in between, my Facebook relationship status with social media would read: it’s complicated. Cute cat videos and online ceasefire petitions fall under “loves”; Incel “free” speech spaces and slacktivist black squares reside solidly in my “loathe entirely” category.
By extension (and at its worst), social media activism can be performative, exhausting, and numbing. I don’t care to count how many times I’ve doomscrolled past devastating online stories (currently appearing in alarming frequency); not because I didn’t care, but because I couldn’t care more.
As a white settler, cisgender female, looking away is my privilege and failing. Marginalized groups can never look away; never “take a break.” But… sometimes I’ve learned I have to look away to preserve my peace, only so I can continue to show up stronger the next day.
I know, I know – I’ve written all this and sound firmly entrenched against social media; however, I cannot deny it has changed the face of activism, with some undeniable benefits.
What’s that? Okay, yes, online spaces can easily become echo chambers. Sure, mis/disinformation spreads like wildfire. Yah, yah, yah, harmful rhetoric seems to go viral the more we fight it.
Wait… what was my point?
Oh yes, it has also provided a “third space” for marginalized communities to find their voices and each other. Once struggling, seemingly niche movements have broken through the noise of traditional (often biased) media to lead global conversations. Long before your dad’s 6 o’clock NEWS has caught up (or decided to pay attention), TikTok and Instagram Reels are showing the unfiltered on-the-ground realities of our modern world.
The advent of participatory online culture has done a lot more than remix the latest viral cat video. We are no longer passive recipients of current events. As digital citizens, we are living, evolving – painfully messy and consistently chaotic – powerful organisms in an online ecosystem. Which begs the question…
What Kind of Citizens Are We?
We should know that if we see a dying tree, the causation and solution cannot be found in its leaves, but rather, its roots. Our society is no different. If the online world is our modern ecosystem, we need to closely monitor what is taking root there, as well as our part in the dynamic.
Okay, but how?
Westheimer & Kahne (2004) call for self-reflection on three kinds of citizens:
- As a personally responsible citizen, I’ve donated to GoFundMe pages and shared informative posts (fighting the “isms”).
- Whenever I’ve organized a fundraiser or joined a digital rally, I’ve become a participatory citizen.
- But how often can I say I’ve been a justice-oriented citizen, digging at the root causes, asking hard questions, and challenging systems? Only recently, and certainly never enough.
All three roles play a critical role in a healthy democracy (on and offline), but only justice-oriented citizens looks beyond the surface to question and challenge injustice.
So, is change happening online?
Let’s Check the Stats!
As an emotionally driven person, I always challenge myself to research the statistics in an argument. Does online social activism make a difference and are we shifting toward digital justice-
The United Way website provides a heap of interesting statistic infographics like this one. Photo credit: Unitedwaynca.org
oriented citizenship?
Looking at the United Way’s 2024 cross-generational survey of 1000 Americans (sorry, I tried to find Canadian stats!), Gen Z leads the digital social media activism charge:
- A whopping 66% of Gen Z activism happens online – generally through fundraising, sharing resources, or awareness-building.
- An impressive half (51%) have attended an in-person rally or protest, inspired by online organizational efforts.
- Who calls them the apathetic generation? 61% volunteer at least once a year.
- 33% have contacted politicians to lobby for change. Having done so myself, I know how volatile even this simple act can be!
- The majority cite that their advocacy is driven by moral and ethical responsibility, as well as personal experience.
This does not sound like keyboard warriors or passive digital citizens to me. Leading to my next question…
Can We Have Productive Social Justice Conversations Online?
My opinion? Yes, but they must be intentional. This is where it gets tricky, navigating social media activism’s notorious grey zone.
By its very nature, social media is fast, reactive, and emotionally loaded. But… it can also be a space for awareness, growth, empathy, and self-reflection. Of course, we must commit ourselves to examining and modelling constructive online discourse.
And, as educators, we MUST help students engage in these conversations and dig deeper into the root causes of societal inequities.
Our Role to Fill the Digital Space, Not Ban It
If there are babies in the river, are we preparing students to look upstream, swim harder, or even change the current itself? In an article written by Nikki D Robertson (2022), ISTE makes a compelling appeal: Rather than ban social media, teach students how to use it responsibly. We’re already swimming in the digital current; pretending it doesn’t exist or telling students not to wade into it only leaves them unprepared.
Geek moment: Willow might have helped Elora, but he certainly never questioned the who, what, where, why, and how of her being in the stream. Photo credit: Lucasfilms.com
Instead, the article states that we must:
- Act as digital citizenship role models – show them what it sounds and looks like to show up online in kind, informed, and critical ways.
- Provide opportunities for student autonomy – everyone learns best by “doing.” The same holds true for students learning to purposefully and ethically engage with the online world.
- Create a safe space for authentic, hard conversations – they must feel comfortable asking difficult questions, engaging in real-world concerns, and reflecting on their personal impact.
- Acknowledge and celebrate that digital activism is civic engagement – rather than feel shame for engaging online, students should see the value of online social justice discourse.
We can develop students into justice-oriented citizens by helping them explore activism offline and online. This is how we transition online activism away from the grey zone and firmly entrench it as an effective social justice pathway, exactly what our digital world so desperately needs.
Final Thoughts: Making Peace with Online Social Justice
Generational differences aside, the majority of us are already immersed in digital spaces. Denial and avoidance solve nothing. At the start of my Masters, I learned from Dr. Katia that we need to fill the space with positivity and progress. If we don’t, someone else will – possibly (and usually) in a way that does more harm than good.
Personally, I use online activism to educate myself first. I read, listen, reflect. Then I bring what I’ve learned into the classroom. For me, the greatest forms of activism begin with a shared sense of purpose, in myself and those around me. When we teach students how to engage online, we help them make sense of the world, and – hopefully – fight for a better one.
POINTS TO PONDER
Once again, please feel free to respond to any/all the questions, or share in your own unique way.
- In what ways have you engaged in performative and/or justice-oriented forms of online social activism? Have you seen an evolution or regression in your engagement?
- If you do actively engage online, how do you balance caring deeply about social justice and protecting your peace?
- What strategies and resources do you use to help students become justice-oriented citizens online (and in person)?
Thank you for such a thoughtful and honest post—it really struck a chord with me. Your “it’s complicated” relationship with social media perfectly captures how I often feel too. It can be overwhelming, contradictory, and exhausting to navigate—but also powerful and transformative when used with purpose. I really appreciated how you named the privilege of being able to look away. That’s something I’ve had to come to terms with too—recognizing when I step back for my own mental health and when I need to lean in and do the work.
Your reflections on the three types of citizens from Westheimer & Kahne gave me a lot to think about. I’ve definitely found myself in the “personally responsible” and “participatory” categories more often than I’d like to admit. The push toward becoming more justice-oriented—asking harder questions, challenging systems, and looking deeper—is something I’m striving for more intentionally now, especially in how I engage with students.
The statistics you shared about Gen Z gave me hope. It’s incredible to see how this generation is stepping up and using digital tools not just to raise awareness but to take real-world action. Like you said, they’re not just “keyboard warriors”—they’re reshaping civic engagement.
I wholeheartedly agree that the answer isn’t to avoid or ban social media in schools, but to teach students how to use it responsibly, critically, and compassionately. Your point about helping them “look upstream” really stuck with me—we have such a key role in guiding them toward deeper thinking and meaningful action, both online and offline.
Thank you again for this post—it was both validating and inspiring.
Karissa 🙂
Thanks for the feedback and thorough response, Karissa. Yes, the constant battle between taking up positive space online, staying well-informed, AND protecting your peace can be exhaustive. Stepping away from it is certainly a privilege. What has helped you make a shift toward helping students looks upstream (rather than just rescuing the “babies”)? For me, I had an epiphany during one of my school’s monthly fundraisers. I had just completed Following Their Voices training, and it suddenly hit me – why are we asking children to donate to the food bank? Why aren’t we asking why we need a food bank in the first place?! Students have really responded to these deeper level social justice discussions, and I find them much more fulfilling.
https://www.followingtheirvoices.ca/
Thanks for this deep and well-thought-out post. It actually gave me a lot of things to ponder. What kind of citizen am I, or am I even teaching my students and children to become personally responsible citizens, participatory citizens, or justice-oriented citizens? I also appreciate the report you shared based on the United Way’s 2024 cross-generational survey. Since the identity of Gen Z has been shaped by technology and the application of its knowledge, it’s no surprise that they are more exposed and have a higher percentage of engagement in online social activism. I also agree with you that one needs to be intentional in order to have productive social justice conversations online. However, this will also include engaging in respectful dialogue and showing empathy in such conversations. I have always come across posts where people are being insulted for sharing contrary opinions on what the original post entails. As a result, I never post or comment on any online social justice conversations. As an educator, I have always believed in empowering students and teaching them how to effectively use technology because it’s a key skill required in navigating today’s world. So, YES… I am total with you on the need to develop our students’ digital citizenship skills and expose them to opportunities where they can role-play and make important decisions that can help change their world, which is what I have always practised. Thanks for your beautiful post and personal reflection.
And, as educators, we MUST help students engage in these conversations and dig deeper into the root causes of societal inequities
Thank you for your detailed and thoughtful response. While I try to take up positive online space (to fight hatred and misinformation), I do believe the most important battles we must wages are in our classrooms, homes, and communities. We need to stay well-informed so we can have these conversations with our students and families. It’s one of the few reasons I stay online. As you say, rather than waste energy on pointless online arguing, we can use that same passion to speak with our youth, empowering them with empathy and critical thinking skills. I would love to say I am 100% a justice-oriented citizen 100% of the time, but that wouldn’t be true (or human) – all we can do is our best. It sounds like you are doing so, too.
This was very well thought out and I appreciate how you backed up your argument with data and statistics. I have shared a lot of your concerns around social media, but the more I reflected on it the more I realized that isn’t a good reason to not participate. I don’t think everyone needs to participate in social media, but I think if you do you need to react to what you notice. I make a point to share my thoughts and sometimes challenge misinformation. I mostly stick to people I know in real life though, and if we have already had a discussion around a topic I don’t feel the need to continually challenge them.
Thanks for sharing, Danine. I agree with you – it can be very tricky knowing when to speak up and when it’s not worth it. I always tell myself – you have to meet people where they are at (and some of them require baby steps of information). One of my favourite books (that touches on this topic) is called Think Again by Adam Grant. It’s all about staying curious and open, even when you don’t agree with people. Grant provides strategies for listening to people’s views…while gently prompting them to rethink some of their beliefs (without turning it into a major debate). Everyone should have to read this book – the world would be better off! Keep challenging misinformation in your own way 🙂
Book link: https://adamgrant.net/book/think-again/
Kimberly, this post really resonated with me. I’ve definitely felt that tension between caring deeply and needing to step back to protect my peace—your reflection on that balance was so validating. I also appreciated the breakdown of the three types of citizenship.
Your point about filling digital spaces instead of avoiding them hit home—if we’re not modeling thoughtful engagement, someone else will fill that space, often in harmful ways. Thanks for sharing your insights!
Yes, Kaela – I think we all feel the increasing need to protect our peace from the online world. It’s not lost on me that in my early 20s I used to overshare online, and now I protect my online peace with a vengeance. I was taking a digital hiatus when I heard Katia give a keynote speech (at the start of my grad studies). It really struck me when she said that if we don’t take up online space, someone else will do it for us. It was the gentle nudge I needed to get back online with a clear purpose.