Daily Resource Highlight - 3/08/2021
Posted by Michelle Dickson on March 08, 2021 at 11:11 PM
Below are the highlights and featured resources of this past week’s Daily* Resource.
3/02/2021 - Facebook Can’t Differentiate Between Us And Instigators!?
We have a problem. As some of you may know, Facebook paused political advertisements in November to reduce the flow of disinformation around the elections. Not a bad idea, but it appears their definition of “political” is a bit….aggressive.
Some members of the Bridge Alliance, including Liz Joyner and The Village Square, are finding that they can’t boost any of their work, including programs about forming friendships! If Facebook were serious about reducing polarization, this is exactly the type of content it should be allowing.
Unfortunately, there’s no way to know if / when Facebook will refine its filters, so we are asking you, our supporters, to do what Facebook won’t and show these important messages with your friends and family. Share Village Square’s important videos and messages and get the word out about the work that Liz Joyner and her team are doing to reduce polarization in America.
And if you feel like going the extra mile, consider boosting some other organizations that are committed to bridging ideological divides. Under each organization on that page, you will find links to their website and social media channels. Even if you don’t feel comfortable sharing their content, you should definitely follow them for your daily boost of hope and serotonin.
3/04/2021 - John Lennon’s “Imagine” Comes to Mind
In John Lennon’s classic song “Imagine,” he asks the listener to come with him on a journey through his version of utopia.
If John was alive today, I am guessing he would include “no social media” in a modern version of “Imagine.” Urban Rural Action, on the other hand, wants you to go beyond imagining -- they want you to try eliminating social media from your everyday life for a month (from March 15th through April 15th), and then tell them about your experience. You don’t have to go all in; you can participate by eliminating just one or two forms of social media.
The upsides to taking part are well established. We know that social media takes a toll on our mental health, and yet over 3.6 billion people use some form of social media -- more than half the world’s adult population. In other words, social media is as pervasive as it is pernicious.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has further cemented the role of social media as a driver of social interaction. This is especially true for teenagers, who have lost precious months of classroom learning and the social development that comes with that. Urban Rural Action wants to better understand the damage that has been done, and is asking for your help -- whether you are an adult or a teenager -- with the learning process.
You can learn more about the project by clicking here.
Featured
- AllSides - February 26th, 2021: When Someone You’ve Never Heard Of Is In Charge
- AllSides/Braver Angels - February 22nd, 2021: A Simple Way to Reduce Polarization: Learn That the Other Side Thinks of You More Positively Than You Expect
- Ballotpedia (video) February 25th, 2021: Briefing—Incumbency and 2020 state legislative elections
- Braver Angels - February 25th, 2021: Speech, Justice and the ACLU | Rakim Brooks with John Wood, Jr.
- Civil Squared - March 2nd, 2021: The “best subsidy” we can get
- Civics Unplugged (webpage): Civics 2030 Projects
- Fair Vote - February 3rd, 2021: 2021 Already Showing Promise for RCV Reforms
- The Flip Side - February 22nd, 2021: Immigration
- The Flip Side - February 24th, 2021: Merrick Garland
- The Flip Side - February 26th, 2021: Equality Act
- Independent Voter News - February 19th, 2021: America Is Not As Divided As The Parties Want You To Think
- National Civic League - February 25th, 2021: The Death and Rebirth of Civic Journalism
- National Institute for Civil Discourse (program): Engaging Differences
- National Institute for Civil Discourse - February 4th, 2021: Political strife, pandemic causing public discourse to plunge even lower
- Open Primaries/IndependentVoting (video) February 24th, 2021: Virtual Discussion--The Next Great Migration: The Rise of Independent Voters
- Project on Government Oversight - February 18th, 2021: Accountability How a “Small Business” Kingpin Wins Billions in Defense Contracts
- Project on Government Oversight - March 2nd, 2021: GameStop Isn't the Only Urgent Issue Facing the SEC
- R Street Institute - February 22nd, 2021: On COVID-19 aid, Congress should follow the numbers
- R Street Institute - February 23rd, 2021: The Texas Blackout Blame Game
- RepresentUs (petition): Tell House Leadership: Bring The "For The People Act" to a Vote
- RepresentUs/Unite America (grant competition): Campaign Accelerator Awards
- Stand Up Republic (petition) February 24th, 2021: Support The For The People Act!
- Unite America - February 2021: Honoring Black Reformers
- Urban Rural Action (form due March 14): Dry Media Month