As part of our bond referendum promotion, we asked all our supporters to turn their profile pictures green or to include the YES logo. It was striking to me when I pulled up Facebook and saw that all the people I was seeing posts from that day featured green.
It was a great sign for our campaign, but it made me realize how narrow my social media inputs are. Everything I was seeing was from sources that agreed with me. I’m sure the similarities go well beyond the bond effort and stretch into views on politics and the news.
Maybe we would all be better off if we followed some people who don’t agree with us. While we may never adopt their argument, it could help lessen some of the tension if we at least understood what others see as merits.
Be aware of whether your feed serves as a mirror with a reinforcing loop. Broaden your inputs and let in some different perspectives.
that would truly be priceless!
Likewise if such friends could openly discuss the merits of either side of an issue without warrior tactics. It seems social media has a bit of evolution to make before we can reach such days, and it may have more to do with the attitudes of users than with the medium itself.
-Kelly