What's Wrong With The World Today: Activism Versus Slacktivism

     If you've been on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram lately, I'm sure you've noticed the increasing number of #IceBucketChallenge videos taking over your feeds ... Maybe you've even posted one ... But are you even aware of what the videos are even about?
     These videos are meant to bring awareness and raise money for various ALS foundations.

     Yes, that's right. You either accept the challenge within 24 hours and dump a bucket of ice water over your head or donate to an ALS foundation of your choice.
     Now I am all for a bit of fun and games, but how many people do you think are really donating towards ALS foundations? All this shenanigans seems a little self-congratulatory to me, just another way to get some likes on Facebook. I mean, why not donate either way, whether you choose to accept the challenge or not? It all seems like another giant case of SLACKTIVISM.
     I think as a generation, we (yes, I am no saint), have gotten pretty lazy when it comes to supporting social issues and causes that are supposedly important to us. We are happy to "like" a charity Facebook page, or retweet a celebrity when they are vocal about some timely issue, but we are so much less likely to actually go out and protest or fund raise for the very same causes.
     While there is a place for slacktivism, actual activism is also important for our generation. We want to change the world, but we cannot do it while continuously sitting in front of our computers and clicking and uploading - we need action, as well.
     It's time for you to get up and act and DO when it comes to the causes you care about ... So go ahead and do something, anything. Remember little things add up, and can help to make change.

If not us, then who? If not me and you? Right now, well, it's time for us to do something. If not now, then when? Will we see an end to all this pain? Oh, it's not enough to do nothing. It's time for us to do something. (Do Something, Matthew West)