Cyberactivism: Does it Really Help?

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Facebook’s Breast Cancer Awareness Meme Went Viral…

Remember that wave that went around Facebook at least a few times where our lady friends would post a single color on their status and if someone questioned it or commented on it, they would private message them a pre-copied & pasted blurb about Breast Cancer Awareness?

Yeah, so do I. It was cute. I think I played along, once. Got a good laugh. That was the end of it.

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But did it actually do anything to help fight breast cancer?

No.

It was meant to bring about awareness, I guess. It was supposed to confuse men… Maybe make them curious, but breast cancer is not a strictly female-gender affliction. Men also suffer with breast cancer.

If lack of awareness was the real issue, then I think the campaign would have been more successful. Every October, the country is covered in the color pink: pink football uniforms, pink donuts, pink ribbons pop up just about everywhere. But marketing doesn’t cure cancer.

Turning Awareness into Actual Action

Actual resources, like these posted below, would be more beneficial to the cause. The meme would have been more beneficial if it had been encouraging people to volunteer, donate time or money, sign a petition, or write a letter (Mahoney & Tang, 2017).

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The National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc (for volunteer opportunities, ways to donate, etc.)

Breast Cancer Research Foundation (for tips on how to prevent breast cancer)

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (for tips to prevent, information, and ways to get involved in the fight against breast cancer)

Resources:

Mahoney L., & Tang, T. (2017). Strategic social media. From Marketing to Social Change, Marblehead, MA: Wiley.