Activism on a college campus is not just a “trend” on Instagram, but a means for true change of the outlook on how justice is portrayed.
Caroline Smith
Staff Writer
When you hear the word activism on a college campus, the first thing some might think of is “post it to Instagram to advocate for your cause,” and others think of setting up a table in a common area and discussing it with interested people. Both are activism in different ways, but only one truly sparks change that is meaningful and evolutionary.
At Winthrop University there are multiple outlets to stand up for a change. Social media posts can circulate through algorithms, but is that the only way to raise awareness in the push for justice?
In our technological society, online posts usually bring engagement through likes, comments, reposts or shares. Yet, there is little accomplished in that moment of fame. This may feel like an impact, but it raises the question: What happens when people stop interacting and move on to the next hot topic?
This calls for a more tangible opportunity to advocate for awareness. A large part of campus culture is attending cultural events, which help us reach our graduation requirements but can also raise awareness in ways that may not be possible through the internet’s reach.
In Fall 2025, around the time of Charlie Kirk’s death, representatives of the WU Democrats and WU Republicans co-hosted a cultural event. The main goal of this event was to bring together the separate ideas of both political spectrums by explaining that there are a variety of ways to have cool, calm, and collected conversations with those you may not necessarily agree with.
Over 30 students attended that event, but that did not seem to reflect positively on the online social media spaces of campus. This was an especially wonderful turnout, however, that didn’t appear to go well online. Social media platforms sparked some positive, but mostly hateful commentary.
Fizz, an anonymous social media app, has become a space where criticism quickly escalates into personal attacks. In this online community there is no trace of accountability; it vanishes into thin air, where without anonymity it would create unmistakable responsibility for a hateful post. While WU is known for being a Liberal-leaning public university, it seems that the activism that they advocate for often leads to a dead end.
This sort of anonymity opens doors to more extreme conversations rather than encouraging understanding. The students who have attended local protests against issues like ICE often face commentary that is negative and positive in the same span of time. If a republican-leaning or democrat-leaning person comments on a post, it truly doesn’t matter how politically involved someone is–it is abundantly clear which way each person leans regardless of anonymity.
On that note, that specific event was a hot topic online, but with the anonymity behind it there is that safety net that protects almost everyone who continues to use that platform.
Further, tabling in student common areas seems to be an effective way to connect with students and share ideas. This student-to-organization connection is one of the main features of Fall and Spring involvement fairs.
Tabling allows for the interactions that create an atmosphere where questions can be asked, comments can be heard, and in-person interactions that social media can’t replicate can take place.
Activities such as cultural events and tabling to facilitate face-to-face conversations teach something beyond the scope of the internet, beyond superficial engagement, and most importantly create a safe space for lasting change that many advocates hope for.
Activism is an evolving call for justice among college campuses. The question now stands: Will this form of activism continue to exist only in online spaces or is there a real desire for change that will become an effort of understanding others through the uncomfortable moments?
