social media 101 for activists & citizen journalists

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 2011Flickr / 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

Twitter

319 Million active Twitter users

Media watercooler, not limited by friend "walls"

Instagram

600 Million active Instagram users

Image driven, young user base

📷: Emperor ZuckerbergSource: Flickr / Surian Soosay, CC license

Facebook sucks but you need to be thereMovements & 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

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

Get Facebook ad credit donated?

📷: Be a Twitter media monster.Source: Flickr / Rosaura Ochoa, CC license

Media Loves TwitterEveryone 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

Watch out for ...

Nazis with blue check marks

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 TwitterReach 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 (NEW)

Use Photoshop Express or another phone-based editor

Integrate with your Facebook page for analytics

Apps: Layout, Instaweather, Boomerang, Vidstitch

Watch out for ...

Nipples

Mysterious new Facebook-style algorithm

Other Social Networks

YouTube: Still the best place to keep your videos

Cel.ly: One option for creating emergency alert network (but some $$$)

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

Social Media SecurityThe 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

Citizen Journalism 101Put 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 phone, shut off/wipe on arrest)

Fundraising: Paypal, Fundrazr, Patreon

Equipment: Batteries, monopod, cords cords cords

Livestreaming BasicsFacebook LIVE is king, but consider YouTube Live, Periscope, Twitter/Instagram live?

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

Work as a Team

Lots of citizen journo tips on witness.org

Oh Shit! What Now? is Growing Resistance

Class schedule, resources, and calendar at

http://ohshitwhatnow.org

Feedback, class ideas, or other suggestions?

ohshit@ohshitwhatnow.org

Copyleft 2017 by Oh Shit! What Now? Austin.

PUBLIC DOMAIN. NO RIGHTS RESERVED.