Social Activism on Facebook: Does that viral status really help?

Social Activism has been prevailant in the Facebook world, almost since it's inception. As in every social media, social activism came naturally to it. You see groups, events and usually viral status updates. The usual 'put this as your status to remember them, or publicise this cause and so on.'

But does that actually help? On facebook it's extremely easy to put up a status and be satisfied that we have done our bit. It gives a relief to our conscience, that we aren't being selfish and are doing our little.

But this poses a huge risk. Social activists and workers are divided into two, those who do it because their concerned and want to help out and those who are guilty for having excess while someone out there doesn't have the basics. A large majority belong to the latter.

If a status, a wall post, joining a group or an event, is going to put to rest that guilt, then we're going to see a huge reduction in the resources we'll be able to offer those in need, and that problem is one that needs to be looked into with serious concern.

Another risk is that, these viral status updates and groups may be made by potentially those who want to see their message go viral, rather than to actually publicise the cause. This is another major problem society needs to look into.

But i believe this is only a passing fad, people will sooner or later realise that social activism of this level will not actually help anyone anywhere. I wish that this will happen sooner rather than later.

Facebook and other social media hold immense potential to capitalise the want to do good in mankind. If honed properly, we can make a huge leap in that journey to Utopia.