I talk a lot about the positivity of social media, and in a time when most platforms are facing scrutiny for the content that is being shared there I wanted to put pen to paper (so to speak)…
Last year I had the opportunity to deliver a Ted-X inspired talk at Wiltshire Council in Trowbridge about Social Media for Social Good and Making a Positive Change – because it’s a topic close to heart. I’ll go in to more details about what this truly means in another post but for now I want to talk about how we can all use social media in a more positive way and why we should each make small changes to the way we use our social media platforms.
Social Media is a massive part of our day to day lives, and has power over our mental wellbeing for better or worse. This is very much a two way street, and we must take responsibility for the content we choose to share – after all, this has potential to affect how our followers and friends feel.
With this in mind, always be mindful when re-sharing content from other sources of information. Is it from a factually reputable source? The phrase “Fake News” has been thrown around so much recently that it is almost a cliche, however, it’s still very much a problem. Contributing to the spreading of “Fake News” includes clicking or commenting on images, quotes and memes that are designed to shock (these posts are also known as click bait). Use a website like www.snopes.com to confirm whether what you’ve seen is factually correct, or check the web address of the source. Does it look or sound legit?!
Raise awareness of a charity close to your heart. It is a great thing that more and more people are aware of the world around them and want to change things for the better, but the circulation of shocking content is not always the healthiest way to aid that change. Informing people of a charity that they may not know about is likely to have a more positive reaction and it gives your followers a clear idea of how they can help. If you want to raise awareness of what’s happening in the world – take part in constructive conversations. Don’t facilitate unhelpful or upsetting debate.
Another way of raising awareness across social media is to get involved with cause related hashtags. For example, in recent history #MeToo has helped to demonstrate how prevalent sexual assault and harassment is. High profile personalities sharing their own stories in order to change the behaviour of society for the better. If a cause connects with you, then ask yourself how you can follow up once it has stopped trending…
For every piece of bad news there is, there is also wonderful news that often gets overlooked. People are doing fantastically selfless things every day and taking positive steps to make a difference. Sites like www.goodnewsnetwork.org are a great source for good news and will brighten up your social media accounts. Go and download it today!
There are so many ways that social media can be used to spread positivity and help others. Here are three more simple ways that you can make a difference with the power of social media.
1. Post a positive review about a small local business that you have recently used.
2. Spread the news about a local event that will bring the community together.
3. Avoid airing your grievances with someone as this may lead to online bullying.
By making these small changes we can all contribute to a better experience online.
If you have any questions about social media, please get in touch!
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