In digital Bangladesh, we live in a new civic reality. With smartphones in hand and the internet at our fingertips, the language of our protests has changed. When we see news of an injustice, we share it; during a humanitarian crisis, we “black out” our profile pictures; and we show solidarity with movements through hashtags. In sociology, this attempt at protesting with just a few clicks is called “Slacktivism”—a combination of the words “Slacker” and “Activism.”

The question remains: does this online activity truly bring change at the policymaking level, or does it simply create a temporary sense of moral relief in our minds?

Public Opinion vs. Moral Satisfaction

The greatest strength of slacktivism is its reach, while its weakness is its “depth.” Aman Ullah, a student at Dhaka University, explained: “When I post a protest status on Facebook, I feel like I am not staying silent. But then I wonder—does this like or share actually have any impact on the streets?”

Research suggests that slacktivism provides people with a type of ‘moral self-satisfaction.’ It makes individuals feel their duty is done, often discouraging them from taking real-world action or participating in field-level programs. Frequently, a protest becomes just a ‘viral trend’ that disappears as soon as a new issue arrives.

Statistics and Current Reality

Over the last decade, online activism has played a massive role in shaping public opinion in Bangladesh. According to various surveys, there are currently over 130 million internet users in the country, most of whom are active on social media.

Data from global research firms like ‘We Are Social’ shows that nearly 70% of social media users in Bangladesh express their views on social or political issues online. Events like the Road Safety Movement (2018) and the Quota Reform Movement (2024) prove that when hashtag campaigns are linked with offline protests, they can force changes in state policy. However, movements that remained limited only to online petitions or hashtags had a real-world success rate of less than 10%.

International Context

Slacktivism is not a challenge unique to Bangladesh. Globally, movements like #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter began as forms of slacktivism.

When #MeToo started, it was just a hashtag. But it turned into a global revolution only when it evolved into legal battles and demands for policy changes in workplaces. Similarly, in Bangladesh, hashtags used during the Quota Reform Movement grabbed the attention of international media, significantly boosting the movement’s moral strength. This shows that slacktivism is extremely powerful when it acts as a medium for spreading information.

The Solution: The Way Forward

Slacktivism should be viewed as the first step toward change, not the last. To turn online awareness into sustainable change, experts suggest three solutions:

• Online-Offline Coordination: Beyond just hashtags, online campaigns must be linked to talking with local representatives, conducting opinion polls, or organizing peaceful gatherings.

• Digital Citizenship Education: Internet users need to learn how to ‘Fact Check’ information. It is crucial to join constructive discussions instead of reacting purely out of emotion.
• Policy Monitoring: The government and administration must build a culture of treating social media demands as genuine public concerns rather than just “online noise.”

Digital protest is like a spark which is enough to start a fire. But to keep that fire burning, there is no substitute for field-level work and structural reforms. If slacktivism serves as the gateway to offline activity, only then will it ensure the success of digital democracy. Otherwise, it will remain nothing more than a piece of self-satisfaction trapped behind a smartphone screen.