Harvard, Stop the Performative Activism

Instagram reposts are not activism. Yet at Harvard — purportedly an incubator of future leaders and changemakers — many eager activists seem to think so.

Endless Instagram stories share the same eye-catching headlines on Trump versus Harvard, gun violence, police brutality, and climate change. This repetitive echo chamber is less a fight for justice than an ingenuine attempt at masquerading as social crusaders. Instead, if we want to be actual agents of change, Harvard students must uphold a responsibility to engage in thoughtful and purposeful advocacy rather than performative activism.

During my first semester at Harvard, I witnessed the impulse to post rather than act. Instagram stories critiqued Donald Trump’s response to the tragic shooting at Brown University or the ongoing crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in a supposed attempt to bring awareness.

But taking five seconds to hit “repost” does little to encourage real change. From escalating political polarization to an ever-warming planet, our generation faces complex problems that require tangible effort to address. Volunteering, protesting, and petitioning can generate real impact. Making noise about hot-button issues on social media might make us feel good about ourselves, but it accomplishes little else.

These quick snippets of activism are just that — quick. In the aftermath of social or political upsets, reposts proliferate, only to fade out within a couple of days. It is a fair-weather form of “raising awareness,” displaying no real devotion to the cause and no real commitment to long-term change.

In a world where the average smartphone user scrolls through 300 feet of news per day, according to one estimate, a repost of a story they have repeatedly seen does not leave a lasting impression. Instead, it feeds an echo chamber. Moreover, this lazy form of communication misses the human, empathetic element that comes from dwelling on an issue and dissecting why it must be addressed. Even when it comes to simply raising awareness, our discourse needs more effort and nuance.

In reality, the most palpable way to engage in activism is physically. Students can attend local protests, donate to charities and causes, or volunteer with organizations whose mission aligns with their values. For students with resources and time, working to create actual change — beyond simply through a screen — can be immensely powerful.

Of course, Harvard students are busy. While studying for classes or organizing club events, it is admittedly not always easy to be physically involved — making social media a tempting way to advocate for a cause. But such platforms need to be used effectively and with passion, purpose, and empathy.

Rather than regurgitating the arguments of others, students should craft their own words about how the prevalence of school shootings points to a deep-rooted problem in America, or about President Trump’s dangerous policies and their impact. True activism is reflecting on and engaging with social issues that deeply resonate with you. Social media carries immense power to share a message with a nearly endless audience; it is up to students to take advantage of it beyond simply reading, watching, and reposting.

In a media landscape overflowing with New York Times reposts, allocating time to fashion purposeful and passionate statements about the turbulent events in our country — or even sharing resources students can use to make a direct impact — is a way of leveraging the convenience of social media to promote tangible change.

To be fair, some students engage in real-world activism as well as posting online. Indeed, I’ve seen peers at Harvard use social media to publicize protests or petitions for causes they care about. When paired with offline efforts, online posting can draw attention and energy to exigent issues.

Harvard professes a mission to create social transformation and teach students how they can best serve the world. In that spirit, students should do their own research, share their own stories, and go out into the physical world to work for real change. The new generation’s future leaders should use technology as a tool, not an easy way out.

After all, activism can take many forms — and it certainly goes beyond pressing a few buttons.

Christine Yoo ’29, a Crimson Editorial editor, lives in Thayer Hall.