Today, I hosted an IG Ask Me Anything! takeover for Jack Dot Org focusing on how to social media in your advocacy. Jack.org is an organization bringing together young leaders to address mental health across Canada and they are Canada’s only charity training and empowering young leaders to revolutionalize mental health. They do this through making Jack speakers available, Jack Chapters in schools, Jack Summits. The jack.org website is also a great place to find tools and resources for mental health awareness and support.
I believe in the work that they do and I also believe that social media is the greatest tool for our generation to make a difference. My takeover today brought these two together and I was happy to answer some questions people had for me and since IG stories only stick around for 24 hours, I wanted to recap it here.
How can we help a cause or foundation using social media?
We live in a remarkable time where social media is one of the most powerful tools you can use create positive change. You can talk about the issues that matter most to you, sharing both why it’s urgent. You can also provide a solution and how people can join you to help tackle it. When you share why you are passionate about an issue, people will be inspired to learn more themselves and take action. You can also use social media to find the organizations, resources, and allies – this is your community. Share their message too. From the touch of your fingertips on a screen, you have the ability to connect, share, mobilize and amplify.
How do you use social media in your advocacy?
I use my blog and social media platforms to share the good and draw attention to causes that I am passionate about and the organizations that I support. I also use it to share positivity and good vibes through motivational quotes that I love, kind reminders that people are awesome, stories and causes that inspire me and information about events I’m attending and what they stand for in hopes of motivating others to take action. I also use it to connect with my community of like-minded changemakers who care about the same things I do.
How do you deal with the negativity that comes with using social media?
Social media can either be used as a wonderful place to learn, connect and share good things and build people up or it can be used to break people down. When it comes to negative comments (which is something I’ve had my fair share of), I don’t engage. My advice is don’t fight the hate with hate because we all know what will come out of that. To create a more inclusive and welcoming online community, you need to be positive which can mean responding to the positivity on social media and not liking any posts that promotes insults or hate. Also, something important to remember is that the only “like” and “follower” that matters is your own.
Who are some organizations that use social media for advocacy?
@jackdotorg is awesome for mental health awareness.
@justgirlproject and @gentle.ig share positive and motivational quotes and sayings that I love.
@dosomethingorg provides campaigns and initiatives for a variety of issues for different timelines.
@wemovement is paving the for youth to make doing good doable through providing tools and resources to take action on local and global issues.
@marchforourlives used social media to help build and grow their movement against gun violence and school safety. They have used it as a tool to reach as many people as possible, including students, teachers, parents, politicians and media. Look to them as a role model in social media.
Did you get involved in taking part in the organizations you support through social media?
Definitely, yes. Through following the Women’s March I got really involved both online and offline when I took to the streets in Toronto with thousands of people here (and millions around the world). The same goes for March for Our Lives – I’ve been following and supporting them from the very beginning and went to the March in Toronto with a group of my friends. When you take your online advocacy IRL, it feels incredible too.
The “social” in social media is there because it is how we connect to each other. Let’s keep connected. If you ever have any questions about using social media in your advocacy, you know where to find me.
I’ve been planning to use social media too to share my motives with the world!