Luigi Di Martino

Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining Virginia Lowe and Ella Hosty-Snelgrove on Eastside FM to discuss a topic that’s often misunderstood: slacktivism. You can listen to the full conversation here.

In the public imagination, slacktivism is often reduced to performative gestures—clicking “like,” sharing a hashtag, or signing a petition. These actions are frequently portrayed as lazy or ineffective, especially when compared to traditional forms of protest or institutional engagement. But this narrow framing fails to recognise the evolving nature of political participation—particularly among young people.

As I shared in the interview, critiques of slacktivism often reflect a deeper reluctance to take new and different forms of civic action seriously. They also tend to come from a place of privilege, reinforcing outdated ideas of who gets to participate in political life and how. For many young people—especially those from marginalised communities—digital platforms are not optional add-ons; they’re essential tools for organising, expressing dissent, and building collective voice.

Drawing on my research and work with the New Possibilities: Young People and Democratic Renewal project at Western Sydney University, I’ve seen how young Australians are using online spaces not just for visibility but for strategic, community-driven engagement. This is particularly evident in movements around climate change, where youth have led some of the most impactful and imaginative political actions in recent years—often beginning with digital mobilisation.

Rather than dismissing digital activism as superficial, we need to view it as part of a spectrum of political engagement—where smaller, symbolic acts can serve as gateways to deeper, sustained involvement. These are not lesser forms of activism; they are emerging forms of political expression that reflect the realities, constraints, and creativity of a new generation.

Listen to the full interview here: https://eastsidefm.org/episodes/1756274400/