Are Celebrities Obligated to Use Their Platforms for Activism?
It’s unheard of for a celebrity, whether that be an actor, a model, a musician, a television personality, or an athlete, to not have some form of online media presence. Celebrities use platforms like Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, and YouTube to promote their projects and partnerships digitally — and it’s quite effective. Public figures typically amass thousands of interactions and millions of followers on their accounts, giving them a compelling influence on a global platform. Does great power come with great responsibility in this scenario? Are celebrities obligated to use those platforms for activism?
Most celebrities do not enter the limelight with the intention of becoming an activist. They intend for their fame to land them acting roles or performing gigs, which means most public figures are not passionate — or are even qualified — to advocate for social justice issues. However, if there is a current event and celebrities feel the pressure to make a statement, they typically hop on the bandwagon and do so out of fear of being canceled or viewed as problematic. This is known as performative activism, and is arguably worse due to its unauthentic intentions that can easily lead to misinformation for millions of devoted followers to consume.
However, celebrities have access to a tool very few people have: eyes on them. In the same way a public figure typically wouldn’t want to use their social media account to spew hate and negative messages, they should feel an innate moral desire to use their platform for good, whether that be spreading positive messages, bringing attention to their friends or fellow peers in their industry, or even highlighting social justice issues. A healthy medium for a celebrity to advocate for social justice that steers clear of performative activism is by promoting particular issues and nonprofit organizations they are educated about.
Whether celebrities are or aren’t obligated to use their platforms for activism is a hot topic that will always be debated. What are your thoughts?
