Diary of a Gen Z Student: Can we stop with the obligatory activism on social media?

"It seems to me, making it obligatory to be an activist, only lessens the potency of a cause. If people must post about a cause to be seen as “good”, then the cause gets lost in the mix."

Irish Examiner columnist Jane Cowan photographed at her home in County Meath. Photo: Barry Cronin

Practically every time I open Instagram, at any time of day, I can guarantee that I’ll encounter an infographic or political post of some description. Everyone’s got to be an activist, it seems. 

Generally, these infographics are shared with good intention; people trying to bring attention to the plight of Palestinians, or talking about intersectional feminism, or poverty, or any number of worthy causes.