What if Slacktivism Actually Could Feed a Hungry Child?

Online activism, much like the millennials known for it, suffers from a bad reputation.

Dubbed “slacktivism,” social media activism — from “liking” an organization on Facebook to sharing a video on Twitter — often has been dismissed as pointless. Cynicism about slacktivism even inspired recent campaigns by Unicef Sweden and Crisis Relief Singapore in which the organizations ask for money, not Facebook love.

But what if your Facebook “like” actually did feed a hungry child?

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian agency. Every year, WFP feeds 100 million people in 80 countries. From Syria to the Congo, WFP staff risk their lives every day to help the hungry.

To continue its work, WFP needs money. But it also needs the support and engagement of people across the world. Its latest Facebook campaign highlights the necessity of both.

 “You will NOT feed this hungry child by liking the World Food Programme on Facebook,” reads the campaign’s tagline. “But our partner Royal DSM will.”

Until August 8, for every Facebook “like” from a supposed “slacktivist,” WFP will provide a nutritious meal to a child in need.

And each “like” engages another advocate in the global movement against hunger. Because without the concern and commitment of people across the world, WFP says, hunger cannot be ended.

As WFP Social Media Editor Justin Smith recently wrote, “That's why we care about how many fans we have on Facebook… Each time that number grows, we have a new opportunity to tell someone who can make a difference about the work that we're doing and the help that we need.”

So what are you waiting for? With one simple click, you really can feed a hungry child.