Emadeddin Muntasser Explains How to Effectively Use Social Media in Political Activism
There’s no doubting that there are many politically charged users of social media, which is evident right now as the U.S. is still in transition following its presidential election.
You’ve probably come across more than a few friends that have something to say about politics in the U.S. and beyond and you might have even engaged with them. But regardless of political stripe, at some point, these types of messages can get lost in the noise, especially when they’re driven by trending hashtags.
However, this doesn’t mean you should give up and abandon social media as a way to reach others for your political activism, says Washington, D.C.’s Emadeddin Muntasser, an accomplished author, speaker, human rights leader, and president of Roof Safety Systems. Done properly, you can help advance a cause in a genuine and powerful way, he explains.
Include a Call-To-Action
Instead of simply stating your opinion on a political or social issue, you should invite people to get involved by making it more interactive, explains Emad Muntasser.
For example, you could invite people to donate to a fund that helps a particular cause, or you could publish the contact details of governing bodies that people can direct messages or petitions to in order to exact change. It could also be something more direct like encouraging people to vote in a democratic election and telling them where to find poll information for their area. Sharing photos of you voting can also be an inspiration.
The political effort shouldn’t just have a social media component — you can use social media as a way to raise awareness about a cause and then invite people to become part of an action as an extension of the online outreach, says Emad Muntasser. It doesn’t have to be a political rally — you can still have an impact by encouraging others to attend a local workshop or volunteering for an organization that has a greater reach.
Share the Activism Work of Others
Constantly fighting for a cause can be tiring, but instead of constantly posting your own content that furthers a political movement, you can research others doing great work that aligns with yours and share it, explains Emadeddin Muntasser.
This is especially helpful if you don’t have the time or resources to contribute a lot to the cause, but still believe in change. This could be as simple as retweeting someone’s post. Focusing on local political efforts that may be overlooked by big media is something to be considered.
Avoid Being Drawn Into Dead-End Debates
If you’re using social media for political activism, then you’re probably already aware of “trolls” — those who engage with the sole purpose of arguing or discouraging your efforts. This can become frustrating and cause you and others pushing a cause to abandon it, warns Emadeddin Muntasser.
The truth is that you won’t win an online battle with trolls and by engaging them you’re taking away time and energy from the cause. Let others in the online community report posts that are offensive, without delving into incivility that can be used against the group in the future.
Don’t Get Discouraged
Like any effort, focus on starting small and make progress steadily, explains Emadeddin Muntasser. It takes patience to reach an online audience with the sheer volume of content on social media — with millions of posts added per day.
By focusing your efforts and advancing the work of others, you can make a difference at home and around the world.
