Students have a new excuse for spending hours captivated by Facebook, only now their time could be spent doing more than just procrastinating doing their homework-it could help end the genocide in Darfur, find a cure for cancer, or fight global warming.
The new "Causes" application on the social networking Web site lets members engage in activism without leaving their computer chair. Students can read about the issues, donate money and recruit other friends to the cause.
But this neo-activism has some wondering how much of an impact students can have from the computer chair-and if they'll ever leave it.
"Facebook technology is not that optimized for what activism is trying to do," said Derek Lackaff, a teaching assistant and doctorate student in the Department of Communication. "It's hard to carry on a big conversation with people just leaving 'drive-by' comments."
Lackaff explained that when activism first hit the Internet in the 1990s, there was a concern that the amount of energy people were willing to put into a cause would be used up online, and never make it to a protest or to the steps on Capitol Hill.
"We're different because we have the technology that previous generations did not have," said Jacob Vogelman, a sophomore theatrical engineering major. "We're also a lot lazier than the previous generation because of that technology."
The "Causes" application labels this new doctrine "equal opportunity activism," which gives everyone a chance to "change the world." However, some students use the tool simply as a way to spice up their profiles, along similar lines as the listing favorite bands and meaningful quotes.
"In some cases it's fashion," Lackaff said "It's fashionable to support certain causes."
For others, showing support in their profiles is better than nothing.
"I don't have any money to contribute to it," said Lloyd P. Hunt, a freshman theater major. "But it's a feel-good thing. You think if you're a part of it. You're contributing to it somehow."
While Hunt may not have the means to save Darfur or save the music, both causes that he supports online, he finds it easy to be proactive about one of his other causes-the Free Hugs movement. He can often be found in the Student Union Lobby holding up a "Free Hugs" sign, looking to brighten a stranger's day with a friendly embrace.
"I don't have a lot of money but I have a lot of hugs and a lot of love to spread," Hunt said.
Even for the less proactive, simply learning about the issues from links and discussion topics is a form of engagement.
"Maybe something will come out of [the cause], but at the very least it's spreading ideas," said Lackaff.
One student demonstrated the power of Facebook when she raised over $30,000 to fund research for a rare form a cancer from which she is recovering. Mary Sorens, a graduate student in the School of Social Work, won top honors in the "Causes Giving Challenge" on Facebook, garnering over 800 supporters worldwide to her cause in one month.
"A lot of the old methods of activism aren't going to be as powerful moving forward," Sorens said. "That is the power of online networking-you don't have to be in the same location to make a difference."
David Kowalski, a cell and molecular biology professor, created Clean Energy NOW, an environmental advocacy group, as a way to give information to his students at UB.
"It's a really powerful way to communicate all of this information to a broad audience," Kowalski said. "In the cases where people focus and are really interested in a particular cause it's really effective."
With the advantage of mass communication, Facebook Causes and other online groups have been the catalyst for rallies and demonstrations throughout the world. Trebor Scholz, a Media Studies professor who researches the social aspects of the Internet, cited the 2006 immigration demonstrations that were hugely promoted through MySpace as a success story.
"[Facebook] is not the one thing that will change everything," Scholz said. "But it's one of the things that shows people there is a strong support for a cause. It helps."
The instant-activist appeal of "Causes" is enough to get students jumping on the bandwagon, but the reality is that many are there just for the ride.
"Facebook groups are basically mild activism," Hunt said. "It's a form of community...for us to relate to one another. If you don't check up on the groups...they're just useless."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
