More of our lives takes place online than we ever could have imagined just a decade ago. And it’s great! There’s more information available, new ways to connect. But we need to make sure that it is used for the good of all and not just some. Which is why we need a digital revolution.
Why do we need a digital revolution?
It was in 2019 when I really got a big scare. People were on the streets in Germany, raging. Led by fear, that came out as hate and anger towards those most vulnerable.
They were making it clear that they did not believe in the same values I did. Where I, and everybody I knew, wanted freedom, the right to be yourself and most of all the right to be safe from war and harm for everyone, they were thinking only about themselves and wanted these things for themselves only.
It’s not like we didn’t have people on the streets mobilizing against minorities in Germany before. Was it history repeating itself? Not exactly. This time they used the internet to connect, to spread their message and to get people on their side.
At the same time all these wonderful people I know, those working for the greater good, those spreading peaceful messages, were struggling to make the internet work for their causes.
That was the point where I realized I wanted to change something. Working as a web designer is great – I can support organizations and wonderful people with websites. But what I wanted more than anything was to empower more good people, who’s voices were still silent, to get out there – so that we could build a network of support and a strong voice against hate.
Women are still not getting an equal wage or have the same possibilities to success as men do. Same goes for people of colour, or people who don’t fit into the binary gender system. Let’s talk about the rights of Refugees and how we continue to use different standards when it comes to human rights depending on where you were born.
Recently, I heard a quote by a German Actress, Heidi Kabel:
„Once we find a completely unqualified woman in a high position, we won’t have to talk about equality any more.“
Honestly, when is that going to happen?
So what can we do?
I think we all need to do what we really love. Whether you are a movement teacher, a naturopath, working for human rights, for the environments, helping people to get out of trouble, supporting those who need care, creating music, art. If you do something that comes out of you, that makes you happy, it can bring people together.
I set out to study the strategies these people were using to build a movement, I set out to study the best strategies available to connect and empower people online.
We’ve seen #standingrock, #metoo, #blacklivesmatter and #fridsaysforfuture. We see what we can make happen if we work together and call for change.
But not everybody has to be on the front line, maybe you just want to build up your business in a conscious and sustainable way, maybe you want for more people to know about the work of your organization and get new volunteers.
Whatever it is: one thing you want to make sure of is that you own your assets.
How do you do that? By building a mailing list and setting up your website so that you remain independent and so that you can be free from adjusting your content to the rules of Social Media.
Because if we use services that are offered to us for free, we are the product, not the customer. Which does not mean you shouldn’t use Social Media for your business or movement. It just means you should know how to use it well.
