keynote address: using social media to combat extremism
DESCRIPTION
This keynote for a Norwegian conference on immigrants' rights discusses ways to use social media to combat extremism, while recognizing the fact that extremists themselves are using social media.TRANSCRIPT
T r i b e sThe Societal Challenge of Social Media
Mary Joyce | Oslo, Norway | October 14, 2011
and Communities
Two Uses of Social Media
TribeMedia
Community Media
homogeneous heterogeneous
divided inclusive
aggressive to outsiders
welcomesoutsiders
demandsconformity
appreciatesdifference
Social media can be either of these
Two Examples of Tribe and Community Media
Examples
TribeMedia
Community Media
Some Important Decisions
Social media connects us, but it does not help us define who us is.
Who must decide the character of social media.
Some Important Decisions
How can social media help us create an inclusive Norway?
How Do Tribes Emerge?
If we want to stop
Tribeswe need to know how they start.
How Do Tribes Emerge?
How Do Tribes Emerge?Myers and Bishop Experiments (1970)
Racist and non-racist students are divided into groups.
More Racist Group
Less Racist Group
How Do Tribes Emerge?Myers and Bishop Experiments (1970)
What do you think happened?
Start of Experiment
Less Racist
More Racist
Neutral
Then they were asked to discuss their views.
More Racist Group
Less Racist Group
How Do Tribes Emerge?Myers and Bishop Experiments (1970)
Do you see what happened?
End of Experiment
Less Racist
More Racist
Neutral
More Racist Group
Less Racist Group
How Do Tribes Emerge?Myers and Bishop Experiments (1970)
When isolated, the views of each group intensified.Racists became MORE racist.
Non-racists became LESS racist.
End of Experiment
LessRacist
More Racist
Neutral
Lessons for Norway
What does this teach us about far-right sites?
In a place where extremists meet alone they reinforce each other and become more extreme.
Two Strategies: Engagement and Monitoring
It’s time for the community to engage with the tribes and challenge their hateful beliefs.
The goal is not to change the minds of hateful people, but to prevent them from spreading their ideology.
Strategies for Engagement
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 1: The tribe is part of the community.
They think they are apart.
But really they are a part.
They are connected to the larger community.
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 2: So you have the right to participate.
Remember to be strategic.
Engage where they are trying to recruit new members.
Image Source: http://www.bodylanguagesignals.com
What sites in Norway fit this description?
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 3: But they still won’t want to engage with you.
Threats Insults Ignore
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 4: Remember the 3 P’s - Positive, Patient, Proof
TribeBehavior
Community Behavior
aggressive, angry, negative positive
emotional patient
false claims and prejudices proof
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 5: Have a strategy for what to engage with.
Content Type Description Engage?False Claims Supporting Prejudice
uses false information to defame a group ?
Hate Speechattacks a person/group
because of collective characteristic (gender, religion, ethnicity, etc)
?
Incitement to Violence
serious threat of violence against an individual or group ?
Opposing View an opinion you disagree with but that does not incite hatred ?
Trolling says something offensive just to annoy you ?
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 5: Have a strategy for what to engage with.
Content Type Description Engage?False Claims Supporting Prejudice
uses false information to defame a group Yes
Hate Speechattacks a person/group
because of collective characteristic (gender, religion, ethnicity, etc)
Yes
Incitement to Violence
serious threat of violence against an individual or group Yes
Opposing View an opinion you disagree with but that does not incite hatred No
Trolling says something offensive just to annoy you No
Strategies for Engagement
Lesson 6: Ask your allies to help with engagement.
Especially if they share characteristics with the tribe.
•Religion•Ethnicity•Age•Interests•Location
Their words will be more persuasive.
Strategies for Monitoring
Strategies for Monitoring
Citizen journalists can watch
and report.
Image Source: Flicr/Jesse757
Strategies for Monitoring
Image Source:templatemonster.com
You only need a few people to start a free monitoring blog.
Far-Right Watchshining a light on the d
arkness
Strategies for Monitoring
Image Source:templatemonster.com
The site can also be used for activism.
Far-Right Watchshining a light on the d
arkness
Strategies for Monitoring
Image Source:templatemonster.com
...and it can influence the mainstream media.
Far-Right Watchshining a light on the d
arkness
for Journalists
Comparing Strategies
Comparing Strategies
Engage Monitorharder easier
high confrontation
low confrontation
their turf/neutral turf your turf
careful planning and discipline
just decide which sites to watch
The Goal
The goal is that most citizens decide to join of the community, not the tribe.
That is when you win.