5 Lessons from Gina Martin

Last week, I had the wonderful Gina Martin on my podcast.

As an activist, author, and artist who uses her platforms to encourage real-world change, there was a lot to be learned about how we can be using social media to do more good.

These are my 5 key takeaways from that discussion:

1. Social media guidelines need to be made more accessible

When you have an issue with one of your social accounts - where do you go? Who do you speak to? How do you solve it?

We still don’t have a clear answer.

The platforms aren’t accessible at all, and a lack of public access to conversations and insight into the people in charge is only further alienating users.

Beyond this, the tools implemented in an attempt to combat online abuse are not up to scratch. They don’t account for the nuance and complexity of what’s right and wrong, users’ lived experiences or the context in which certain terms are used.?

Nor do they account for the real-world impact of negative online experiences.?

This needs to change.

2. We need to create space between our work and our lives

We think we need to give our whole selves over to the work - especially when we work in fields we are passionate about. But that just isn’t sustainable in the long term.?

So it’s important to remember that it doesn’t make you any less committed if you take a break or set a boundary.

If anything, it actually gives you the power to do an even better job when you return in the zone of work.?

Your mind is clearer and more nourished, meaning it has greater capacity to think creatively and positively about the tasks and challenges in front of you.

3. Hate is loud but positivity can be too

People doing good tend to be quiet but that doesn’t mean they aren’t there.?

We just need to search to find them.

It’s the joyful moments they bring that - for the last 2 years especially - have allowed us to come back to the difficult things.?

They’ve kept us going; given us something to hold onto when the world is at its bleakest.

Their importance has never been clearer, and I hope we don’t lose sight of it as the world returns to ‘normal’.?

I hope we always look for the good amongst the bad and find time to be silly amongst the serious.?

I know I feel dejected when I don’t.?

4. Young people need to be given the tools to navigate the online world themselves

The pressure young people are under at the moment is like nothing we can imagine from the outside.

We don’t know what it’s like to grow up with social media. We don’t know what it’s like to grow up in a society increasingly shaped by it. We don’t know what it’s like to try and make sense of who we are whilst trying to navigate everything social media is telling us to be at such a formative age.

And we need to remember that when it comes to talking to young people about social media.

Instead of trying to TELL them how and when they should be using it, we ought to be working with them to identify the tools they need to navigate it themselves.

Then we can get to work giving them those tools, which will then enable them to craft a social media experience that works for and fulfils them - not the rest of the world.

5. Activism isn’t supposed to be fun

Activism isn’t supposed to be fun, and for the people doing the groundwork, day-in, day-out, the reality is uncomfortable and difficult.?

Yet it’s that same work that paints a broader picture of hope for the people who engage with it from the outside.

So shout out to everyone fighting the good fight.?

Your work is so important.

You can listen to Gina's full episode of 'I Shouldn't Say This, But ...' here !