In the years since its conception, social media has altered almost every aspect of consumption in society—and none more significant, or more threatening—than how we as a generation engage with politics. What once required gathering in public spaces to volunteer and demonstrate can now begin with a single click.

Plenty of students at Santa Clara University engage in online activism, whether in the form of an Instagram story, a shared link, a like or a repost. Yet, walking around our campus, there’s a notable absence of students making their voices heard in person. With political decisions sparking public outrage nearly every day, it is now more important than ever to attempt to make change in the only way in which we can: practicing real-life activism beyond a screen.

Not too long ago, during the Vietnam War, students took their political frustrations beyond the classroom and into the streets, organizing protests that became a visible part of the broader antiwar movement. Yet, in our modern time, when outrage plagues the student body, our response is on a different front—a digital one.

The lack of in-person student activism on our campus is hard to ignore and extremely discouraging. Students race to their social media accounts when faced with injustice in an attempt to create change. Although social media has proven an effective tool for aiding activism, alone, it is not a solution.

On the positive end, social media has the potential to engage audiences at unprecedented speeds with a low barrier to entry, allowing students to acquire information with as little as a swipe through their phones. Through this, it has immense power to educate many in a short period of time. Based on a survey from the United way of the National Capital Area of 1000 Americans, 66% of Gen Z individuals state most of their activism takes place online.

Social media activism has its benefits; it allows us to educate others, spread information quickly, and bring attention to issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. But awareness is only the beginning. If our concern for an issue never extends beyond the screen, we risk mistaking expression for action.

The goal of political activism is ultimately to create meaningful change within society. When a student decides to post on Instagram, they may be able to successfully educate their peers; however, psychologists have found that low-effort online participation can sometimes substitute for more demanding forms of participation, creating a disconnect between what they have actually accomplished and what they feel they have accomplished. A politician may see thousands of posts about an issue, but visibility alone does not necessarily create the political pressure needed to produce change.

In-person activism is not limited to standing in a crowd and holding a sign. It can also mean observing a boycott, organizing a demonstration, volunteering at an organization in support of your cause, participating in walkouts, and more. These actions require more than simply pressing a button; they require time, commitment and a willingness to be seen.

When we have the opportunity to do more but choose not to, our actions can become little more than virtue signaling rather than a genuine attempt to create change. In-person activism, on the other hand, demonstrates a level of commitment that a social media post alone cannot; when we gather in a variety of forms, we create a presence that is much harder to dismiss.

For example: historical movements for women’s rights demonstrated how collective mobilization can bring attention to demands for equality and help push for social and political change. In that case, and in many such others, goals would have been scarcely accomplished without the on-the-street participation of those who support a cause. Our strength as citizens is in our visibility.

Online activism functions best as a complementary tool and not as a solution to political issues; it should only be a first step to achieving change and not serve as the primary means to an end. Sharing our outrage is easy; acting on it is not. A social media post may tell the world what we believe, but it does little on its own to change the circumstances we are protesting. If we truly believe an issue demands change, our response must extend beyond the screen.