social media 101: for activists, organizers & social justice warriors
TRANSCRIPT
Oh Shit! What Now?
The Oh Shit! What now? Collective plans study
groups, discussions, and workshops aimed at
equipping folks with radical skills to share with
others.
For more information, visit our website:
http://ohshitwhatnow.org/
📷: Citizen journalists at Occupy Wall Street, December 12 2011
Flickr / Jessica Lehrman, CC NC license
Social Media 101
A guide for activists and citizen journalists
(that's you)
No one is in charge & we're all journalists
● Leaderless movements thrive on social media
● Social Media activism WORKS
● Everyone is a journalist now: and that's good
● Fuck neutrality, be honest about your bias
What Social Media Can Do
● Raise awareness about issues
● Mobilize activists and protesters
● Put pressure on politicians, corps & public figures
● Share breaking news & important events
● Create social connections at a distance
● Raise funds for movement building
● Draw the attention of cops & trolls
What Social Media CAN'T Do
● Create an event without IRL momentum
● Substitute for meatspace networking & door knocking
● Replace traditional PR & media work
● Reach everyone equally
● Start the revolution
📷: Social Media Monster: "Be everywhere!"
Flickr / Alison Quine, CC NC ND license
You CAN'T Be Everywhere
● Prioritize the best network(s) for you
● Post consistently and regularly
● Choose a posting schedule you'll actually keep
● Set aside time to maintain your account
● Interact with your followers & top accounts
Facebook, Twitter & Instagram ...
Facebook:
● 1.86 Billion active Facebook users
● Huge driver of traffic, but limited by the "Friends Wall" & algorithm
● 319 Million active Twitter users
● Media watercooler, not limited by friend "walls"
● 600 Million active Instagram users
● Image driven, young user base
📷: Emperor Zuckerberg
Source: Flickr / Surian Soosay, CC license
Facebook sucks but you need to be there
● Movements & orgs should have a Facebook page (NOT personal profile)
● Facebook Groups are great for group organizing
● Facebook Events for public events driven by your movement
Watch out for:
● Trolls gaming the system
● Online-only concern trolls
● Facebook rolls over for the Feds?
The Algorithm 👹 & You
● Hyper-shareable memes are the best
● But not "too many words" -- 25% rule
● Use Facebook native video
● Like & share your own stuff
● Don't post on top of yourself -- space it out!
● Enlist your friends
Facebook advertising?
● Pros & cons of supporting an evil empire
● Facebook locks you into their algorithm then you buy a key
● Allows creepy targeting of your potential supporters
● Racist
● Get Facebook ad credit donated?
📷: Be a Twitter media monster.
Source: Flickr / Rosaura Ochoa, CC license
Media Loves Twitter
● Everyone is a journalist ... especially on Twitter
● Massive viral potential regardless of follower count
● Easy way to reach celebrities, brands, politicians?
● Create international solidarity & activist networks
● Use Tweetdeck.Twitter.Com for powerful control
Watch out for ...
● Crackdown on nazis (but also people fighting back?)
● Twitter doesn't GAF about you
● Swearing at celebrities & fascist rulers?
📷: Get these motherfucking hashtags off this motherfucking social network
Source: Where do memes come from?
Getting viral on Twitter
● Reach out to famous & powerful accounts (politely)
● Use hashtags (responsibly)
● Tweet a lot
● RT yourself
● Have great images (with accessible captions)
● Study your analytics
● Tweet a lot
● Have a personality
📷: Instagram isn't just for broadcasting your lunch.
Source: The collective unconscious
Instagram is for 📷
● Pick your best photos
● Use filters sparingly
● Mostly use the Instagram square format
● Post sparingly or use Instagram albums
● Use Photoshop Express or another phone-based editor
● Integrate with your Facebook page for analytics
● Apps: Layout, Instaweather, Boomerang, Vidstitch
● Put hashtags in comments.
Watch out for ...
● Nipples
● Mysterious new Facebook-style algorithm
📷: Mastodon. Cuddly mascot. Distributed, nazi-killing & privacy enhancing
design
Why Mastodon Is Better
● Distributed design creates social "neighborhoods" (instances)
● Less tracking & bloatware, no advertising
● Strips image metadata by default
● Most instances enforce good behavior, lack of nazis
● About 1M users -- get in when it's new & fun
● Mastodon is not perfect, still under development
Watch out for ...
● Content Warnings (CW) on politics, "lewds" etc
● Different servers have different rules, respect them
Getting Started With Mastodon
● Find an instance (anticapitalist.party or look on joinmastodon.org)
● Read the rules of your new instance and make sure they meet your needs
● Sign up for an account & let your friends know on other social networks
● Home: Follow your friends.
● Local Feed: Your Instance Or Neighborhood. Get to know your neighbors!
● Federated Feed: Everybody on Mastodon! Let it flow ...!
● Post an #introductions "toot"
● Learn about different post types: Direct, followers-only, unlisted, public.
● Content Warnings are good.
Follow @ohshit_atx & @kitoconnell on anticapitalist.party!
Other Social Networks
● YouTube: Still the best place to keep your videos
● Tumblr: Viral "blog," a social aspect to your writing & posts
● Wordpress: Create a stable home for your group
● Snapchat: Ephemeral stories of a day's events
● Nextdoor: For mobilizing your neighborhood
● Minds: Free Facebook-style alternative. But may have a lot of nazis.
Social Media Security
● The police & your "enemies" know everything you post
● Create layers of security (public event, private planning)
● Consider NOT using social media (then maybe do it anyway)
● Keep most of your 💩 off Facebook?
● Create anonymous accounts with a Burner phone or false identity
● Don't expose activists to cops
● Turn off GPS, use a VPN
● Use Signal for encrypted communication
Harassment & Hate
● Block block block
● Mute Mute Mute
● Report abusive content & get your friends to pile on
● Investigate filtering options (esp. Twitter)
● Block Together? (Often problematic)
● Take a break when you need
● Think before amplifying hate, screenshot if you do
● Don't let the bastards get you down
Fighting Hate Online
● Amplify anti-racist messages
● Amplify POC, LGBTQ & other marginalized folks
● Don't tone police angry marginalized people
● Speak out unapologetically for justice
● Make people feel uncomfortable when necessary
● Call in rather than out when you can
● Put pressure on the powerful to act against hate
● Report Nazi Accounts
Citizen Journalism 101
● Put justice & movements first
● If you see something, broadcast something
● Get it out fast
● Develop a personality and consistent style
● Create a place online for people to find you
● Learn to take good photos with your equipment (practice!)
● Network and become a trusted journalist in movements
● Secure your devices (encrypt, lock, shut off/wipe)
● Fundraising: Paypal, Fundrazr, Patreon
● Equipment: Batteries, monopod, microphone, cords cords cords
Livestreaming Basics
● Emergency livestreaming is OK, consistent livestreaming is better
● Keep your camera steady (monopod, stabilizer, selfie-stick?)
● Narrate what you see
● Respect people's boundaries ("don't film me!")
● ... unless they are fascists
● Cops will go after you first (then other journalists)
● Be extra careful about WHAT you broadcast to cops
Facebook LIVE is king, but consider YouTube Live, Periscope, Twitter/Instagram live?
Oh Shit! What Now?
is Growing Resistance
Class schedule, resources, and calendar at
http://ohshitwhatnow.org
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