Back in 2020, we saw a radical shift in the way humanity tackled prejudice; the turn of the decade brought to light several existing issues through protests, rallies, and marches. With movements such as ‘Black Lives Matter’, virtual climate strikes, and the more recent ‘Bans Off Our Bodies’, activism – both online and offline – has been on the rise. While it’s easy to hop onto the bandwagon by reposting a post on Instagram, that’s not where it ends. Here are a few dos and don’ts of successful activism.
DO: Make time to educate yourself about the issue. Research about the cause and its history, as well as what you can do to make a difference – before taking any action.
DON’T: Spread false information. If you come across a post, ask yourself two things – does the data come from a credible source, and does the post romanticise the situation? Do not try to educate others until you have researched yourself thoroughly.
DO: Donate and sign petitions for the causes you care about but can’t directly help. Donating and making contributions is an excellent way of helping a cause, but ensure that your chosen organisation is safe and trustworthy before donating. Sign petitions that are effective and will impact the place of crisis.
DON’T: Dismiss someone else’s opinion. Be open to others’ perspectives and beliefs even if you disagree with them. Be sensitive with your words, and if you feel like what you say can be perceived as hurtful, find another way to communicate. While educating someone, be mindful of your words and maintain a polite tone.
DO: Start taking action. Whether it’s participating in marches, partnering up with NGOs, or even posting a donation link, try to do as much as you can rather than just liking a post and commenting on how heartbreaking the situation is.
DON’T: Think of activism as a trend. While taking activism to social media has its benefits (it has provided a platform for those affected to share their experiences and has given exposure to different causes), it has instilled the idea in many people that their part is over once they simply post or “tweet” about it. Just because people have stopped talking about it as much does not make the cause any less critical. Real change will only be seen if people continue to act over a period of time.
Keeping these in mind, we can all take those small steps towards a better and more accepting world.
