Anyone who has a Facebook account with teenage friends knows that young people believe in using their voice. I can follow the asinine status updates of my young patrons through my library’s Facebook page, talking about themselves, their lives, their relationships, what they ate for dinner, etc. But when it comes to true civic engagement, their voices are often less used. I know from personal conversations and overhearing complaints between patrons on campus who often do not know I work for the library, that many people really care about decisions made in the library. But when given a digital venue in which to voice their concerns, opinions, and ideas we get nothing. Nothing. Our library’s Facebook page is something people “like,” but do not often interact with.
Many activist I know find web 2.0 technologies frustrating when it comes to the voice of youth and creating social change. Among the social justice community in Chicago--CPS teachers, social workers, gang outreach, community development, etc.,--things like Facebook Pages and Facebook Causes allow people to associate with a cause without making any real commitment. You click a button and that’s it. Then you’re cool for having a political bent in your identity on facebook. The socially active people I know call this “soft” social justice—identifying with a cause, but making little commitment to fight for it.
The official page for Facebook Causes reads: ”Causes empowers anyone with a good idea or passion for change to impact the world. Using our platform, individuals mobilize their network of friends to grow lasting social and political movements.” How this plays out depends not only upon the Page’s administration and their ability to connect Facebook users with opportunities for engagement, but also the willingness of Facebook users to respond to those opportunities. Some Causes pages allow Facebook members to give donations via credit card, which can sometimes get dangerously close to consumerism as social activism. Giving money to a cause to make us feel better about it, and to potentially forget about it, is not the point of activism. The real problem with consumerism as social activism is not the motive, for the good work is still being done. But the social activism aspect can so easily be taken away from the consumer activity, and people will hardly notice.
Wearing TOMS shoes is so cool right now among my friends. I’m glad that buying shoes that help relieve the effects of worldwide poverty is “cool.” But other shoe manufacturers are starting to imitate the TOMS look, some with and others without the social activism aspect. Sketcher’s BOBS are an almost exact replica of the TOMS shoes and mission. If you buy a pair of BOBS, a pair is donated to someone in need. ALDO’s Kalaoa shoes, however, look about the same as a pair of TOMS, cost about the same as a pair of TOMS, but are purchased without the free pair going to a person in need. So much for making social activism cool. As soon as it’s cool, people will find a way to exploit it.
There are some really great places for teens to become socially active online.
Taking It Global is a social network that connects young people with others interested in creating change. Discussions and resources are configured around issues—environment, education, health, etc.
The International Youth Foundation runs Youth Action Net, which connects young people to quality information, resources and funding for action, and international learning and work opportunities.
What Kids Can Do encourages youth to become socially and civically engaged by connecting them with organizations, websites, blogs, and other resources for action, while chronicling the achievements of young people worldwide.
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