By Stella Stone
Misinformation and performative activism, often intertwined, are potent forces that undermine climate movements across the globe. As you mindlessly click through Instagram stories, you may see a cheery-looking graphic discussing dying polar bears. While your first instinct may be to repost this, first consider– what are the motivations of the creator? Is the information factual? And most of all, how does this even help?
While misinformation can have varying definitions, a 2020 study from the University of Exeter states “[a] common theme is that misinformation pertains to information that is false, inaccurate or misleading,” (Treen et al.). Across all categories of social media, a Statistica study found that 67% of Americans have encountered fake news on social media and that 10% of American adults have knowingly shared fake news (“COVID-19 Misinformation”). Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok have shown little remorse for their role in spreading false information, which leads to unfounded lies being perpetrated across the platforms. One clear example is the perpetration of lies about the Mona Lisa being stolen. A viral TikTok video with nearly three million likes claimed that the famous Da Vinci was missing, prompting mass hysteria in the comment section and beyond. Though this is not related to the climate movement, it clearly illustrates the danger of social media platforms and misinformation.
Thanks to these platforms’ specialized algorithms, echo chambers form within like-minded users and often encourage discourse over arguably insignificant topics. Instead of looking at the big picture, these online arguments between those who, on a broad level, have the same values and ideals only contribute to confusion and inaction.
In addition to misinformation, performative activism plagues the environmentally-minded community. Performative activism is generally defined as support for social justice causes with self-serving motivations. Many celebrities are often guilty of this, in the environmental movement and beyond. In an interview with Time Magazine, Professor of Communications Tia C.M. Tyree argues that online activism campaigns are only effective if they are a more significant part of a real-world campaign, saying “[t]hese campaigns give everyday people a chance to do something larger than themselves, but there has to be online and offline goals and objectives.”(Lang). Just because a celebrity makes an appearance at a protest doesn’t mean they won’t make a post the next day promoting a new makeup tool, tech item, or wellness pill from a company with little to no environmental transparency.
It can be difficult to resist displaying your care for the environment on social media, especially as a young person with little individual impact on the plight of the whole world around you with pressing issues filling your feed. Similarly, environmental actions such as protesting can be hazardous for members of oppressed communities such as people of color. As Kristy Drutman said in a recent interview: “when it came to activism, there was a lot of “Direct action is the only way,” and it’s like: getting arrested is the only way. That’s not necessarily an accessible narrative to people of color, especially black folks.”
There are no easy fixes for these issues. Both misinformation and performative activism will likely continue to be problematic across social issues for the foreseeable future. Climate change must be addressed by corporations and governments. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do to help. In terms of misinformation, make sure to check the validity and motivations of the creators before sharing. Next time you think about reposting an Instagram infographic, think about what local charities you can make a direct impact on. It can be difficult, but stay away from the mindset that you must save the world all by yourself–and that social media is the way.
Works Cited
“COVID-19 Misinformation is Ubiquitous: 78% of the Public Believes or is Unsure About At Least One False Statement, and Nearly a Third Believe At Least Four of Eight False Statements Tested.” KFF, 8 Nov. 2021, www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/press-release/covid-19-misinformation-is-ubiquitous-78-of-the-public-believes-or-is-unsure-about-at-least-one-false-statement-and-nearly-at-third-believe-at-least-four-of-eight-false-statements-tested/.
Lang, Cady. “Can Celebrity Activism Campaigns on Social Media Actually Make a Difference? Here’s What an Expert Thinks.” Time, 17 Sept. 2020, time.com/5889742/celebrity-instagram-boycott/.
Orbanek, Stephen. “Study shows verified users are among biggest culprits when it comes to sharing fake news.” Temple University, 9 Nov. 2021, news.temple.edu/news/2021-11-09/study-shows-verified-users-are-among-biggest-culprits-when-it-comes-sharing-fake.
Press-Reynolds, Kieran. “Here’s how a TikToker tricked loads of people into
thinking the Mona Lisa was stolen.” Insider, 10 Jan. 2023, www.insider.com/
tiktok-creator-mona-lisa-stolen-louvre-museum-2023-paris-2023-1.
Treen, Kathie, et al. “Online misinformation about climate change.” WIREs Online Library, 14 May 2020, wires.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/wcc.665.
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