Tips for healthy social media activism
Caring deeply about a social cause often comes with a strong desire to share that passion with the world, but social media can feel like a whole separate world of its own.
Each time we open these apps, we’re bombarded with relentless advertisements, short-form content designed to keep us coming back for more, and thousands of unfiltered opinions ranging from preferred pizza toppings to thoughts on global wars and civil liberty violations.
These online spaces can feel overwhelming. In fact, the Office of the Surgeon General issued an advisory about teen social media use in 2023, citing studies that showed teens who spend more than 3 hours per day on social media face “double the risk of mental health problems, including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
Engaging in social media isn’t without risk, but our interactions in the digital world can hold profound power if we approach them with care and intention. If you’re interested in using social media for activism and advocacy, start with these basic tips.
Online privacy and safety
While you are standing up for marginalized or exploited people online, remember that you are not immune to the dangers of exploitation yourself
Anything you say or send to another person can be discovered, leaked, or shared publicly without your permission at any time. To help keep yourself and your personal data safe, maintain private profiles and make sure the people on your friends/followers lists are people that you know in person.
Tons of over-the-top compliments? It’s not that you don’t deserve them… but that’s a red flag
When communicating with anyone, whether you know them or not, be wary of excessive compliments and flattery (known as “love bombing”), especially from individuals older than you. This can lead to emotional manipulation and is often a precursor to abusive and exploitative behavior.
Avoid sharing your physical location on social media
This includes RSVPing to events. It’s a safety risk for you and others if strangers can find your location by peeking at your social media pages. Instead, keep those plans safely in a private group chat. Post a picture from your meet-ups after they’re over, not during.
When you see something, say something
If something seems “off” or you feel uncomfortable in any way about conversations or content in online communities, speak up and inform a trusted adult.
We know that’s easier said than done. If you’re having trouble finding the words, take some screenshots and send them to someone you trust with a note to explain why you’re concerned.
Media Literacy
Misinformation can spread like wildfire online. While it’s valuable to raise awareness about what you’re passionate about, spreading misinformation could actually harm your cause by damaging credibility. Consuming and sharing information responsibly means asking questions and critically assessing whether the story, post, or video you’re about to share is actually true.
If you feel instantly angry, this could be a red flag. Pause, refuse to jump on the outrage train, and dig deeper. Just because something has gone viral does not mean that it’s true. On the flip side, going viral doesn’t necessarily mean the content is unreliable.
Social media algorithms prioritize content that users are rapidly engaging with. This means that the more views, likes, comments, and shares a post gets, the more people will see it.
On top of that, anger as an emotion can be contagious. Studies have shown that anger tends to spread through social groups both in person and online. When contagious anger combines with the social media algorithm, we find that angry posts tend to get more attention. In fact, a Yale University study showed that social media platforms have amplified more expressions of moral outrage over time because “users learn such language gets rewarded with an increased number of “likes” and “shares””.
Outrage can function as a necessary driver of social change. However, widespread outrage can also be tied to widespread misinformation. When something troubling has been shared a hundred thousand times, it’s easy to assume that it must be true. But sometimes, that’s not the case.
That’s where your discernment and media literacy come into play. How do we tell the difference between rage bait and information that’s safe to share?
Media literacy tools to help you investigate thoughtfully
- Reverse Image Search: Often, old or unrelated photos are shared with “breaking news” headlines to encourage outrage and social media engagement. A reverse image search provides quick and easy information to validate where a photo may have originally come from. From Google Images, click on the icon that looks like a camera.
Then, you can click and drag any image into the search bar to see where else it’s appeared online.
2. Lateral reading: You can think of this one as “cross-checking.” In lateral reading, instead of relying on a single source, you’ll compare the content with other sources. Consider using the Stanford History Education Group’s “Three Questions:”
- Who is behind the information
- What is the evidence?
- What do other sources say?
Before you click the “share” button or comment on a video, be sure to take a closer look, especially if the information is emotionally-charged.
3. Learn to identify AI: From deepfake artificial intelligence (AI) photos and videos to AI summaries at the top of a Google search result page, AI is virtually inescapable now. While AI-generated content is becoming harder to identify, are resources available to help you stay current on emerging technology so you can identify signs of AI.
4. Don’t argue with robots: According to Statista, 32% of all website traffic from 2013 to 2023 came from bots, or software programs designed to perform repetitive actions, often imitating human behavior. Before you jump on the outrage train in that comment section, remember the person on the other side of the screen might not be a person at all. Sometimes, it’s more important to protect your peace by keeping engagement to a minimum.
5. Keep learning: Technology is always evolving, and spotting misinformation isn’t always easy. Continue to explore media literacy tips and tricks with these PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs, and remember that even the most experienced debunkers can be fooled by an emotionally-charged headline every now and then. Stay diligent!
Your impact on social media and beyond
How can we know if our use of social media is translating into real change? Start by asking yourself these three questions.
1. Am I using my socials to connect with my friends, family, and peers in real life? Sometimes, engaging online can help you feel more comfortable and confident in having in-person conversations that make a difference. Don’t let the conversation stop on the screen. It can be intimidating to discuss human rights and activism outside of the perceived safety of social media, but when you shift some of those discussions to text messages, phone calls, dinner with the family, and social gatherings, you demonstrate your personal conviction and leadership. You might even find that some of your friends or family members express interest in learning more or helping you advocate further.
2. Is social media helping me get involved with my cause locally? Start thinking about actions you can take to advocate for your cause in your community—this could be volunteerism, fundraising, writing for a school or local newspaper or blog, video journalism, organizing a mutual aid event, planning an event to get to know your neighbors, getting creative with print media (zines are growing in popularity), or attending educational events. Awareness and visibility online can only go so far, and if activism always stays on a screen, it can be more limited in its reach and impact.
3. Am I using my social media platforms to stand up for people in my community? We’ve all seen unkindness on social media. Even though you may feel like a single voice in a sea of negativity, your voice makes a difference to the people you defend. Watch for cyberbullying in your circles and pay attention when peers from marginalized communities are attacked online. You can’t necessarily stop those attacks from happening, but you can respond in ways that demonstrate you will not tolerate hatred or cruelty, and that you will work towards building a more compassionate digital world. In some situations, reporting a post and looping in an adult you trust is the best form of activism.
Advocating for exploited and marginalized people can take a mental and emotional toll. Even without participating in any activism, simply existing on the internet can damage your mental health. You may have heard it before, but it still holds true: it’s a marathon, not a sprint.
One study, cited in the Surgeon General’s advisory on social media and youth mental health, found that when teens deactivated their social media accounts for four weeks their self-reported happiness, life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression improved by 25-40%.
This may be partially due to vicarious trauma, sometimes called “secondhand trauma” or “public trauma,” that we experience when we engage with content about heavy topics like social injustice. Vicarious trauma is defined as indirect exposure to potentially traumatizing events. Therapist and author Edy Nathan reminds us, “Being informed is one thing, but living in a state of vicarious trauma is entirely different.”
Check in with yourself regularly and stay mindful of public trauma symptoms. They may include (but are not limited to) nightmares and insomnia, changes in mood, loss of motivation or feelings of apathy, social withdrawal, changes in appetite or eating habits, and distancing from spiritual beliefs. If you begin to experience these symptoms, know that they are a normal human reaction to witnessing trauma. They are also serious and call for intervention, such as disengaging from social media and establishing support from a mental health professional.
When it comes to activism on social media, pace yourself. Take breaks or limit your online time to specific times of day. Use digital wellness features on your smartphone like app timers. Practice intentional self-care. Find an accountability partner to check in with and keep lines of communication open with an adult you trust.
Above all, remember, it’s okay to not be okay. If you’re struggling, please reach out for support. It’s easy to get pulled into despair when you’re spending time fighting the forces that cause despair. Remember the airplane rule—put on your oxygen mask first, and prioritizing caring for yourself while you advocate for others.
If you or someone you love is in crisis, seek help immediately. For help 24/7 dial 988 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, or reach out to the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
All images generated using MidJourney generative A.I.
