Activist Communities Using Social Media

for Net Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Activist Communities Using Social Media

for Net Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Chris Bartlett

@harveymilk

Thanks Ivan and Seth

Chris Bartlett

@harveymilk

Thanks Ivan and Seth

A community thrives by its connections, not by its collections! It's the relationships, and the prospect of future relationships, that keep members active and excited.

@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html

A community thrives by its connections, not by its collections! It's the relationships, and the prospect of future relationships, that keep members active and excited.

@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html

On-line community networkOn-line community network

@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html

On-line community networkOn-line community network

Outer Orbit- Blue nodes- not connected/lurkers. More than 60% of the group.

Middle Orbit- Connections to prior acquaintances- no sense of belonging yet. Likely to leave or become passive and will do so in unison. About 20% of the group.

Outer Orbit- Blue nodes- not connected/lurkers. More than 60% of the group.

Middle Orbit- Connections to prior acquaintances- no sense of belonging yet. Likely to leave or become passive and will do so in unison. About 20% of the group.

@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html

The core of the networkThe core of the network

@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html

The core of the networkThe core of the network “They are very involved and have formed a connected

cluster. The leaders of the OLC are embedded in the core. The core members will stay and build the community. Unfortunately they are in the minority. The core nodes are usually less than 20% of most on-line groups. Although small, they are a powerful force of attraction. It is the core that is committed and loyal to the OLC and will work on making it a success. They see a win-win for themselves and the group -- better connectivity will help the individual and the group simultaneously.”

“They are very involved and have formed a connected cluster. The leaders of the OLC are embedded in the core. The core members will stay and build the community. Unfortunately they are in the minority. The core nodes are usually less than 20% of most on-line groups. Although small, they are a powerful force of attraction. It is the core that is committed and loyal to the OLC and will work on making it a success. They see a win-win for themselves and the group -- better connectivity will help the individual and the group simultaneously.”

@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html@valdiskrebshttp://www.orgnet.com/community.html

We are all bundles of potentiality that only manifest in relationship.

If we're to evoke kindness, intelligence, accountability and learning in organizations, we need to promote healthy relationships.

-Margaret Wheatley

We are all bundles of potentiality that only manifest in relationship.

If we're to evoke kindness, intelligence, accountability and learning in organizations, we need to promote healthy relationships.

-Margaret Wheatley

What does it take to build strongly woven networks?What does it take to build strongly woven networks?

A shared ethos/sense of purpose Geographical proximity An understanding of the self-benefit of

introducing other nodes on the network to each other

Shared projects (back channel of events, collection of group data, mapping of network).

A shared ethos/sense of purpose Geographical proximity An understanding of the self-benefit of

introducing other nodes on the network to each other

Shared projects (back channel of events, collection of group data, mapping of network).

What does it take to build strongly woven networks?What does it take to build strongly woven networks?

Breaking people out of isolating clusters AND Reinforcing the uniqueness of the tribe The value of inconvenience (Clay Shirky) Creating opportunities for off-line connection-

mentorship, job coaching, job banking, social meetups, dating profiles, housing, help-wanted.

How do new members of the network feel welcomed and appreciated?

Breaking people out of isolating clusters AND Reinforcing the uniqueness of the tribe The value of inconvenience (Clay Shirky) Creating opportunities for off-line connection-

mentorship, job coaching, job banking, social meetups, dating profiles, housing, help-wanted.

How do new members of the network feel welcomed and appreciated?

What does it take to build strongly woven networksWhat does it take to build strongly woven networks

Twitter:– Replies– Retweeting– Following people, and following friends of

friends– DM (direct message): using this tool to ramp up

connection with friends– Requesting that your friends follow others

Twitter:– Replies– Retweeting– Following people, and following friends of

friends– DM (direct message): using this tool to ramp up

connection with friends– Requesting that your friends follow others

No on 8No on 8

Twitter account set up to combat Proposition 8 (anti-gay proposition in California).

Tweeting of organizing / links Establishing connections between No on 8

activists Retweeting No on 8 tweets from others Fundraising

Twitter account set up to combat Proposition 8 (anti-gay proposition in California).

Tweeting of organizing / links Establishing connections between No on 8

activists Retweeting No on 8 tweets from others Fundraising

Stickam Stickam

Opportunity for video/audio connection Conference room set up by topic Opportunities to set up individual live rooms

for connections with friends / fellow activists Security concerns (re: taping of meetings)

need to be addressed

Opportunity for video/audio connection Conference room set up by topic Opportunities to set up individual live rooms

for connections with friends / fellow activists Security concerns (re: taping of meetings)

need to be addressed

Radical Faerie Heart CircleRadical Faerie Heart Circle

On-line meeting of 50 Radical Faeries from around the world

Set up quarterly, at different time zones to encourage worldwide participation

Thought given to reproducing “real-life” community rituals on-line.

Opportunity for participation by those who otherwise would be excluded due to geographic distance / cost of travel

Jump from on-line to FTF and back

On-line meeting of 50 Radical Faeries from around the world

Set up quarterly, at different time zones to encourage worldwide participation

Thought given to reproducing “real-life” community rituals on-line.

Opportunity for participation by those who otherwise would be excluded due to geographic distance / cost of travel

Jump from on-line to FTF and back

NingNing

Opportunity to create and cultivate your own social network

Map it out- note needs (demographic / geographic / skills)

Aggregation of social network tools on-site

Opportunity to create and cultivate your own social network

Map it out- note needs (demographic / geographic / skills)

Aggregation of social network tools on-site

Gay Men’s Health NingGay Men’s Health Ning

In two weeks, over two hundred activists from around the world have joined

Looking at ways to bring people into the inner circle

Ning’s technology “rewards” regular participation by highlighting those who regularly participate

Debate re: access

In two weeks, over two hundred activists from around the world have joined

Looking at ways to bring people into the inner circle

Ning’s technology “rewards” regular participation by highlighting those who regularly participate

Debate re: access

Gay Bar Mitzvah organizing on Twitter

Gay Bar Mitzvah organizing on Twitter

ConnectionConnection

Understand the network: encourage connections between the people you know and don’t know. Bring people into the inner orbit.

Jump from on-line to FTF and back Let there be something at stake- a price for

participating

Understand the network: encourage connections between the people you know and don’t know. Bring people into the inner orbit.

Jump from on-line to FTF and back Let there be something at stake- a price for

participating

Acknowledgements and Contacts

Acknowledgements and Contacts

Thanks to Valdis Krebs for his useful theories on social networking and on-line communities.

I can be reached on Twitter @harveymilk or by email at bartlett.cd@gmail.com

Thanks to Valdis Krebs for his useful theories on social networking and on-line communities.

I can be reached on Twitter @harveymilk or by email at bartlett.cd@gmail.com