This article talks about armchair activism, or activism by updating social media profiles to spread awareness about a particular issue. According to Haley Robinson, the author, people believe that by tweeting or posting cryptic messages in their Facebook status, or changing a profile picture to something related to a cause, they are raising awareness about their particular issue. Robinson believes that this is lazy activism that rarely results in greater awareness, discussions, or behavior changes that support a cause. Instead, they raise awareness at a "minimal level". Instead, to effectively advocate for a cause, Robinson recommends going out and doing something. This can be donating money, or raising money.
I found this to be another example of how passive and distanced people can be with social media. In a way, it is hiding behind these web 2.0 technologies in order to not actually do something. By sending your friend a message via Facebook, you don't have to actually talk to that friend. By showing your support via Facebook, you don't have to do anything proactive that actually supports the organization. On the other hand, lots of interesting social movement things have been happening thanks to these technologies.
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