Instagram Infographics Are a New Form of Social Activism
It‘s more than just virtue signaling or surface-level sharing
Just over a year ago, the Black Lives Matter movement brought a wave of infographics on police brutality and posts breaking down exactly what it meant to “defund the police.” Then, during the election last November, users tacked messages over every square inch of Instagram encouraging Americans to vote (“grab ’em by the ballot!”). Again, last March, the horrific kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard ushered in a new surge of posts debunking the phrase #NotAllMen and providing resources and safety pointers for women and girls. All over social media, the crumbling regime of glamorous celebrity vacation collages and SugarBearHair shills is being toppled by a new reigning monarch: 10-slide infographic carousels.
Characterized by striking gradients, chunky serif typography, and bold, colorful illustrations, social media infographics wrap social issues in pretty packaging. Without political jargon and highbrow vocabulary, activist content on Instagram is accessible, aesthetic, and far more approachable than the traditional news outlet or stuffy magazine source. I’ve seen my fair share of infographics on everything from immigration policy to climate change to student loan forgiveness, and more than anything else, this new…
