How to Take Effective Political Action
Using Social Media as a Political Tool
What: The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines social media as “forms of electronic communication (such as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (such as video).” It can be thought of as an online public forum, a place where people can share ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Like most public forums, political content is a part of it.
Why use social media as part of political advocacy
- A lot of people use social media
- Today, nearly 50% of Americans say they get their news from social media.
- Counter misinformation and disinformation with factual information
- The shift from traditional news outlets to digital news and independent commentators has created new opportunities for tailored content. However, it has also opened avenues for spreading misinformation and disinformation.
- Social media platforms have expressed concern about the difficulties of countering misinformation.
- It’s more important than ever for those in the pro-democracy movement to take an active role on social media. By responsibly sharing factual, engaging content, users can counteract misinformation and help educate people who may not be as engaged in the reform movement.
- Provide opportunities to engage others in your campaign
- Advertise events, organizations, and groups.
- Network with others working on the same issue or campaign.
How – Posts you see
- Determine if the post is credible
- Always important but now even more so with deep fakes and the use of AI.
- Determine if it is fact or opinion
- If it makes a claim, does it:
- Have a source attached to it?
- If not, can you locate a source quickly and easily?
- If it does have a source, is it reputable?
- If it makes a claim, does it: