It wasn’t so long ago that Gen Z was obsessed with social media activism, but after a few years of rallying, they’re starting to lose faith. The reasons for this are complicated and vast, but to give you an idea of what’s happening, here are 16 reasons why Gen Z is losing interest in being social media activists.
Performative Activism Is Widespread
After growing up with it for years, many in Gen Z now see social media activism as a facade. As The Academy Advocate explains, when their peers, favorite influencers, and brands promote causes for likes and follow rather than genuine concern, it’s hard to take their efforts seriously. This performative approach leads to distrust, causing many to question the authenticity of online movements.
Information Overload
The constant barrage of information on social media is undeniably overwhelming. Gen Z feels bombarded by a never-ending stream of news, petitions, and calls to action, and this overload makes it difficult to prioritize which causes truly matter. It’s almost like getting decision paralysis; there are so many options that they choose to do nothing.
Misinformation and Fake News
Social media platforms are, unfortunately, breeding grounds for misinformation, and Gen Z is increasingly aware that not everything they see online is true, although they’re certainly not immune to it. This skepticism toward the accuracy of online content erodes trust in social media as a tool for activism, making it harder to rally around legitimate causes while knowing for certain that they’re not getting scammed.
Burnout from Constant Engagement
Gen Z is intensely active on social media as it is, so adding online activism to this, which depends on engagement, is exhausting. The pressure to stay updated, share posts, and comment on every issue leads to burnout, ultimately causing many Gen Zers to step back, realizing that this relentless pace isn’t sustainable and that their mental health is more important.
Lack of Tangible Results
Despite the widespread sharing of activist content, many social media campaigns fail to produce real-world change. Gen Z is growing frustrated with the lack of tangible outcomes; they are beginning to question whether social media activism is truly effective or just a way to feel good without doing much.
Echo Chambers Reinforce Bias
Social media is known to create echo chambers where users only see content that aligns with their existing beliefs. Gen Z has been one of the first generations to recognize this reinforcement of bias and how it prevents meaningful dialogue. Upon realizing this, they start to realize that their intense opinions have been based on bias, too, a realization that makes them less confident in their activism.
Algorithms Prioritize Profits Over People
These days, algorithms on social media platforms prioritize content that generates the most engagement, not necessarily what is most important. Boomers struggle to understand this, but Gen Z is becoming aware that these algorithms often favor sensationalism and controversy over meaningful activism. Naturally, they’re feeling disillusioned with it all.
Cancel Culture Causes Fear
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that the rise of cancel culture has created a climate of fear on social media. Many in Gen Z are afraid of saying the wrong thing and being publicly shamed or ostracized. This fear ruins opportunities for open discussion and discourages genuine activism, and ultimately, people are stepping away out of fear.
Short Attention Spans
Social media encourages short, digestible content, especially these days with short-form platforms emerging. However, activism often requires a deeper understanding of issues, which is hard to convey in quick posts or tweets. Gen Z is realizing that the brevity of social media may be inadequate for meaningful activism, leading them to seek alternative ways to engage.
Pressure to Participate in Every Cause
Gen Z often faces peer pressure to engage with every trending cause on social media, which can be totally overwhelming. There are so many problems in the world, yet Gen Z feels compelled to comment, share, and participate in fixing every single one, even when they lack the time or energy. Eventually, this constant demand can lead to fatigue, causing them to leave behind their activism phase.
Lack of Privacy and Anonymity
Social media activism often requires public declarations of support, which can be intimidating for many. Gen Z values their privacy and the ability to express opinions anonymously. The lack of these options on social media platforms makes it harder for them to engage in activism comfortably unless they’re able to use an anonymous pseudonym.
Commercialization of Activism
Outrageously, social media is seeing a commercialization of activism, where causes are often tied to products or brands. Understandably, this is off-putting for Gen Z; they are increasingly skeptical of campaigns that appear more interested in profit than in actual change, which seems all too common.
Disconnection from Local Issues
Online activism tends to highlight global issues, sometimes at the expense of local ones. Lastly, Gen Z is becoming aware that online activism often overlooks the importance of addressing community-specific problems. This disconnection from local realities makes social media activism feel less relevant to their everyday lives, so they ditch it, which is probably for the best.
The Influence of Celebrities
Nowadays, the internet is heavily endorsed by celebrity involvement with social media activism, something that sometimes overshadows grassroots efforts. Gen Z is wary of such celebrities who use their platforms for activism but lack a genuine connection to the causes they promote. This influence can dilute the authenticity of movements, leading to skepticism.
Difficulty in Measuring Impact
A sad fact of social media activism is that it is often hard to measure. Likes, shares, and comments don’t always translate into real-world change, causing Gen Z to become increasingly frustrated by the lack of clear outcomes. Without having the data to understand how they can improve, they slowly become discouraged.
Shifting Preferences to Offline Activism
Overall, as skepticism toward social media activism grows, many in Gen Z are turning to offline activism. They find that in-person efforts, such as volunteering and attending protests, offer more meaningful and tangible ways to create change. This shift reflects their desire for more authentic and impactful engagement, something that, for the most part, the internet simply does not provide.