I feel better prepared now. You answered all my questions. I feel better equipped now. Thank you for all the information you gave me. – Family member
Social media, like websites, blogs, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, has changed the way people use the media. Over half the UK population has a Facebook account. You can use Facebook to talk about your campaign, contact supporters and get people talking about what matters to you.
Many local and national politicians are on Twitter, local councils have Twitter accounts, and as you follow them, more people will follow you. Local and national journalists are also using Twitter to communicate directly with their readers.
Source: Leverage
This toolkit cannot go into specific detail about setting up accounts etc but there are a few important things to remember when using social media.
Advantages include:
- the scope of social media is far reaching – you can take your message or campaign to every corner of the world
- you control the content – there is no third party journalist who might put a “spin” on your story or information
- it’s a relatively cheap way of getting information out to the public
- it’s accessible – more and more people are using social media and if you have access to the internet, WIFI or a smart phone, you can communicate quickly and informatively from anywhere
- you can develop creative strategies for getting information out to followers and those with influence. For example, you can establish your own YouTube Channel to show films, created by you or your supporters, using accessible technology.
Things to watch out for include:
- anything you write, film or post is immediately into the public domain. Anyone can view it and it is absolutely vital that information you post has been checked by a lawyer and/or an INQUEST caseworker to make sure you do not prejudice any investigations, legal cases or trials that relate to your situation
- your post might attract negative, unfair or unkind responses from other users or “trolls” so be prepared for that
- don’t be tempted to respond to others who may have commented unfairly or unkindly to something you have posted when you are angry or upset. We all have moments when we say things we regret, but by doing so on a social media site, it becomes public and could be used against you in the future
- if social media is new to you, but you want to get involved be sure to get good advice from someone who has the technical skills to help you.
