Slactivism.

In a society that's hooked on  instant gratification its far easier to push a button than get on a picket line.
The never-ending stream of information that is flowing around the Internet, which is continuously being updated, does obviously have it's perks and plus sides. Social issues are highlighted and more people become aware of them. However, due to this accessibility of instant information,  the impact and importance of these issues has somewhat been lost.  The majority of people would rather click 'like' or 'RT' and believe that this an active form of protest. 

Scandals lure a crowd; the fewer items if clothing Justin Bieber is wearing, the more attention the  plebeian inhabitants of planet  Social Media  will bestow upon it. It's because of this that nugatory, mouth-eaten tales  involving celebrity heartthrobs take president over more pressing issues, such as human rights or gay marriage. 

And, on the odd occasions more pressing issues manage to tiptoe into the spotlight, it's merely a trend; thousands of people jumping onto the moral bandwagon not because of any desire for social progression but simply because its 'trending'. Which is truly a shame because for those who are activity involved, it often feels so hollow and more of a fad rather than love for a cause.

Surely if people are taking a interest in a cause, regardless of the reason, it's a step in the right direction? To an extent, yes. But how about the bombardment of poisonous 'Share if you hate cancer; ignore if you want your parents to die' posts/pictures that are currently littering Facebook? I'd hardly say that aids any cause other than to irk and pester people. Who came up with that horrid dribble anyway? The only thing cancerous here is those posts. 

I don't doubt for a minute a lot of people's  hearts are in the right places, but because news/information rockets from country-to-country in the blink of an eye, it becomes near impossible to pull the breaks on the false information that's lost amongst it.  

It's  reminiscent of a phrase my grandmother once said to me:  "A lie can travel around the world twice before the truth has even tied its shoe laces."  Or in terms of social media: the lies got fibre optic broadband, where as the truths limping around the globe on dial up.

Essentially my points are these: Not everything you read on the Internet is true and therefore have common sense the identify what's a lie and what's real before you share it. Secondly, make sure you believe in something before you leap on board with the rest of Twitter. Just because the Sierra filter he used on his twitter icon makes those baby blues sparkle like diamonds, it doesn't mean what he tweets is gospel.

Action without consideration can be just as harmful as inaction. Please don't just "like" or "RT" something; care about it.