Why Performative Support Feels Worse Than No Support
You know that thing where someone jumps on a cause just long enough to post about it, then disappears the second the algorithm moves on? That’s the kind of surface-level “support” that’s everywhere right now. For example, maybe there’s the overly designed Instagram story, the dramatic caption, the half-baked fundraising link, and it’s all to get more website traffic, more views, more PR, basically, more everything (especially clout). But yeah, it’s all meant to look like someone cares, but more often than not, it’s just for show.
But when the topic’s something as serious as addiction, or the very real mental rollercoaster that comes with trying to quit something like chewing tobacco or nicotine, that kind of fake support doesn’t just miss the mark, it makes everything worse. Well, all performative activism is awful, but there are some touchy subjects that do make it feel even less genuine.
Quitting is Hard Enough without all the Noise
Trying to quit anything is already a mess of emotions. There are the physical withdrawals, sure, but it’s the everyday mental fight that really wears you down. One minute you’re fine, and the next you’re staring at the ceiling thinking maybe one more dip or puff won’t undo all your progress. It’s tiring. It’s frustrating. And it’s definitely not something that can be solved with a hashtag and a flashy graphic.
What actually helps is support that sticks around. Honestly, support that doesn’t need to be broadcast. Like, the kind that’s there when the cravings hit at 2 am, or when you’re five days in and doubting every choice you’ve made. Seriously, that kind of support usually doesn’t come with filters or branded merch. It just… shows up.
Not Every “Awareness” Post is What it Looks Like
Okay, so here’s the tricky part: performative activism looks convincing. Yeah, it’s designed to. It talks a big game about community, empowerment, recovery, well, all the right buzzwords. But scratch the surface and a lot of it’s empty. In what way? Well, no resources. No follow-through. Just a nice post, a few hundred likes, and nothing that actually helps someone who’s struggling.
It’s not always social media, but that’s one example. But this isn’t just random influencers trying to build engagement. There are people with real platforms doing this too, like Alec Celestin, for example, when he was dressing up his fundraising effort, it raised some major eyebrows rather than actual money. When it comes to “awareness”, well, it can leave a bad taste in people’s mouths because it’s not genuine.
Real Support Doesn’t Beg for Attention
The people doing the real work aren’t usually the ones shouting about it online (or even in real life, like TV or traditional media). They’re the ones replying to messages without needing to screenshot it. The ones who check in just because. Support doesn’t need to be loud to be effective. It doesn’t need a big announcement or a viral hook.
Actually, the louder it is, the more likely it’s performative. So, whatever the message or campaign is, there might be a chance you need to look a little deeper. When you’re ready for REAL support to help you quit dipping… we’re here. No strings attached – join our Discord server and take back your freedom today.
