Many students are guilty of liking that beautifully worded, heartstring-tugging Facebook post that claims to be in support of ending world hunger or that 140-character message on a timeline that ends with the phrase “please retweet.” Then, what happens is students go about their day like they never even saw it, not giving it a single thought afterwards to what that post is actually doing. This is slacktivism.

Everyone remembers the incredibly cliché internet trend of placing the Belgian flag filter over their profile pictures to show support for the victims and families of the Brussels terror attacks in March 2016. While the support being spread was all for a good cause, the number of people who donated money or did some sort of get-up-and-get-out project to help those affected was small by comparison. The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was a similar case. It was all for a great cause, and it raised a lot of money and awareness, but not everyone who dumped a bucket full of freezing water on their heads actually donated to the fund.

Awareness is a great thing, and it does not hurt to create a fun challenge in the summertime that doubles as a way to cool off in addition to raising money for disease research. The same is true for most social and economic “challenges” that provide support with the resources donated.

There is one thing everyone has to remember when participating in these internet trends and liking, retweeting or sharing awareness related social media posts: That alone is not fixing the problem.

Not every single internet awareness post or trend has to come with an obligation to donate money, time or other things of value; a lot of people just want to help spread the word, and that is great. Simply signing a change.org petition, or liking a “one like equals one prayer” comment and then going back to checking email is not going to get a new law passed or pay for a child’s cancer treatment. Those goals require real action, not just a small dose of positivity.

Internet activism has its benefits, but it only results in minimal to no change because it requires minimal effort. In other terms, you get out what you put in. If any real change is to be made, activists must get out from behind the keyboard and go out into the world.

An easy rule of thumb to follow: If a cause asks for donations, give whatever you can and then put that filter on a profile picture or share that post with friends.

If something calls for awareness only, then online advocacy alone is acceptable. No one can be expected to donate to every single fund, but it is always nice to do so whenever possible.

Photo provided by Wikimedia Commons