Distance Learnings

Before BLM, TikTok and Instagram were on the way to becoming political spaces. Now it’s a central theme, largely thanks to black creators introducing formats that educate, organize against injustice, and spur people to action.

Instagram influencers promoting unattainable lifestyles are on blast, while followers are growing for civil and racial justice groups. As political content overtakes IG, artists push the boundaries of boundaries. We're seeing illustrators translate socioeconomics into eye-catching data and designers build your digital activism strategy so there's no excuse to opt out.

TikTok activism is nothing new either: teens have been using the platform to share history classes and issues affecting them. But KPOP fans helped TikTok activism make headlines, along with black creators for lyrical activism and videos slamming racist stats.

Creative initiatives look different, again. As brands revise their content and event strategies amidst it all, new standards in impactful storytelling and digital experiences have emerged.

• Forfeiting feeds to amplify black voices. #ShareTheMicNow campaign focused on black creators taking over white feminists' IG accounts. While Lionsgate gave Antebellum directors control of the studio's social feeds to feature social justice content from black creators.

• Turning digital campaigns into support resources. For the launch of I May Destroy You, HBO created a digital campaign facilitating educational content and mental health resources for queer and black communities.

• Combining entertainment and activism. The BET awards struck a balance between entertainment and activism by celebrating Black entertainers both for their creative success and the role they play as agents of social change.

• Expanding the gaming experience. Manchester's venue The Factory was recreated in Fortnite before its opening day, while Hulu launched a gamified LGBTQ+ hub for the world's first virtual PrideFest.

Platforms are cracking down on misinformation and hate speech. Twitter and Facebook have long been at odds, with leadership taking different POVs on platforms' roles in regulating vs. free speech. This gap only widens and becomes more visible as social justice movements take force.

Facebook is facing backlash with the #StopHateForProfit boycott campaign. While Twitter has been taking steps in the past months to show where they stand with features like "don't @ me" and warning messages, disclaimers on POTUS tweets, and pledging to change their non-inclusive coding language.

Reddit banned r/The_Donald and 2,000 more communities widely known for online attacks and targeted harassment. And for violating its strict hateful conduct policy, Amazon-owned Twitch suspended President Trump. TLDR: social media channels are quite literally blocking the haters.