Activism as Identity

 What does a Black Square on a random Tuesday really mean?

Sources: 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jun/02/blackout-tuesday-dominates-social-media-millions-show-solidarity-george-floyd

The Black Lives Matter movement grew tremendously after the death of George Floyd, marking another tragedy in the long history of black men being profiled and targeted by police officers in the U.S.. Along with protests there was social media outcry for change including June 2nd's Blackout Tuesday, where users posted a black square in solidarity of the cause.

While appreciated by some, others found the act to be performative. No real work was done, simply a stamp on your profile to upkeep credibility and engagement. This begs the question of what is or isn't performative by social media's metrics?

Would a link or donation have made the post more meaningful? Does the status of the poster change the demands? Is it only activism if they are on the frontlines? If they are on the frontlines, are they doing it for a photo op?