hello I have a confession to make I love social media for years I have been
social media for years I have been
social media for years I have been posting what you probably all have been
posting what you probably all have been
posting what you probably all have been posting which is food pictures wishing
posting which is food pictures wishing
posting which is food pictures wishing people happy birthday and of course
people happy birthday and of course
people happy birthday and of course sharing the ridiculously cute cat photo
sharing the ridiculously cute cat photo
sharing the ridiculously cute cat photo and I’ve learned over the years that
and I’ve learned over the years that
and I’ve learned over the years that social media is great for connecting
social media is great for connecting
social media is great for connecting with family and friends especially when
with family and friends especially when
with family and friends especially when we’re connecting socially but also it
we’re connecting socially but also it
we’re connecting socially but also it can be used to connect with other people
can be used to connect with other people
can be used to connect with other people in many instrumental ways such as crowd
in many instrumental ways such as crowd
in many instrumental ways such as crowd funding efforts providing links to
funding efforts providing links to
funding efforts providing links to educational sites and resources and it
educational sites and resources and it
educational sites and resources and it can serve as a space for people to plan
can serve as a space for people to plan
can serve as a space for people to plan events and to mobilize people around a
events and to mobilize people around a
events and to mobilize people around a cause so all of these efforts are great
cause so all of these efforts are great
cause so all of these efforts are great when you’re communicating with people
when you’re communicating with people
when you’re communicating with people who have similar viewpoints but what
who have similar viewpoints but what
who have similar viewpoints but what happens when they’re not so similar
happens when they’re not so similar
happens when they’re not so similar recently we’ve seen people label
recently we’ve seen people label
recently we’ve seen people label conversations on social media in
conversations on social media in
conversations on social media in combative terms you seem them labeled in
combative terms you seem them labeled in
combative terms you seem them labeled in terms of fights and Wars and why is it
terms of fights and Wars and why is it
terms of fights and Wars and why is it that we’re seeing so many social
that we’re seeing so many social
that we’re seeing so many social disputes on social media right now when
disputes on social media right now when
disputes on social media right now when we think about this it could be because
we think about this it could be because
we think about this it could be because we’re using social media for some really
we’re using social media for some really
we’re using social media for some really important reasons we’re using it
important reasons we’re using it
important reasons we’re using it personally professionally politically
personally professionally politically
personally professionally politically and when we think about how we
and when we think about how we
and when we think about how we communicate it can be fairly easy to
communicate it can be fairly easy to
communicate it can be fairly easy to translate our communication style from
translate our communication style from
translate our communication style from the in person to be online when
the in person to be online when
the in person to be online when everything is agreeable and we’re
everything is agreeable and we’re
everything is agreeable and we’re sharing our vacation photos but what
sharing our vacation photos but what
sharing our vacation photos but what happens when things are a little bit
happens when things are a little bit
happens when things are a little bit more serious there’s potential for
more serious there’s potential for
more serious there’s potential for conflicting opinions when we’re talking
conflicting opinions when we’re talking
conflicting opinions when we’re talking about serious issues and we may have
about serious issues and we may have
about serious issues and we may have been trained if you are in certain
been trained if you are in certain
been trained if you are in certain fields to be able to communicate online
fields to be able to communicate online
fields to be able to communicate online but most of us haven’t
but most of us haven’t
but most of us haven’t when we’re communicating online in this
when we’re communicating online in this
when we’re communicating online in this way it might take a different skill set
way it might take a different skill set
way it might take a different skill set and maybe because it’s new or because we
and maybe because it’s new or because we
and maybe because it’s new or because we haven’t been trained there’s potential
haven’t been trained there’s potential
haven’t been trained there’s potential for us to have some difficulties in this
for us to have some difficulties in this
for us to have some difficulties in this communication and what ends up happening
communication and what ends up happening
communication and what ends up happening is it looks like a fight or a war and
is it looks like a fight or a war and
is it looks like a fight or a war and why do we fight well a lot of the times
why do we fight well a lot of the times
why do we fight well a lot of the times when we’re scrolling through posts
when we’re scrolling through posts
when we’re scrolling through posts pretty rapidly we don’t understand
pretty rapidly we don’t understand
pretty rapidly we don’t understand understand the intentions behind that
understand the intentions behind that
understand the intentions behind that particular post right we might make
particular post right we might make
particular post right we might make assumptions about what the person is
assumptions about what the person is
assumptions about what the person is saying or the meaning behind the post
saying or the meaning behind the post
saying or the meaning behind the post based on their background or their group
based on their background or their group
based on their background or their group membership and the minute you label
membership and the minute you label
membership and the minute you label someone as being from a group that’s
someone as being from a group that’s
someone as being from a group that’s different than yours we start to have
different than yours we start to have
different than yours we start to have this sort of us versus them perspective
this sort of us versus them perspective
this sort of us versus them perspective and inherently we default to in-group
and inherently we default to in-group
and inherently we default to in-group favoritism it’s just what we do and as a
favoritism it’s just what we do and as a
favoritism it’s just what we do and as a consequence if I am good and right then
consequence if I am good and right then
consequence if I am good and right then you are bad and wrong and this is
you are bad and wrong and this is
you are bad and wrong and this is exacerbated by the fact that when we’re
exacerbated by the fact that when we’re
exacerbated by the fact that when we’re engaging with people online we’re not
engaging with people online we’re not
engaging with people online we’re not really having conversations all the time
really having conversations all the time
really having conversations all the time what we’re seeing is isolated comments
what we’re seeing is isolated comments
what we’re seeing is isolated comments snapshots of points being made and ideas
snapshots of points being made and ideas
snapshots of points being made and ideas being shared out of context and at one
being shared out of context and at one
being shared out of context and at one particular time we’re not necessarily
particular time we’re not necessarily
particular time we’re not necessarily having true dialogue so I want you to
having true dialogue so I want you to
having true dialogue so I want you to take a moment to think what are your
take a moment to think what are your
take a moment to think what are your motives for posting online is it to
motives for posting online is it to
motives for posting online is it to connect with others is it to share
connect with others is it to share
connect with others is it to share information is it to get others to do
information is it to get others to do
information is it to get others to do something what are your goals and who is
something what are your goals and who is
something what are your goals and who is your intended audience well for those of
your intended audience well for those of
your intended audience well for those of us that are social justice researchers
us that are social justice researchers
us that are social justice researchers we’re using social media for particular
we’re using social media for particular
we’re using social media for particular purpose we’re using it to engage people
purpose we’re using it to engage people
purpose we’re using it to engage people in socially responsible action there’s a
in socially responsible action there’s a
in socially responsible action there’s a purpose behind every single post right
purpose behind every single post right
purpose behind every single post right your purpose is to educate to inspire to
your purpose is to educate to inspire to
your purpose is to educate to inspire to get people to act
get people to act
get people to act and to act in ways that are fair and
and to act in ways that are fair and
and to act in ways that are fair and just now there are differing opinions
just now there are differing opinions
just now there are differing opinions about what is fair and just justice can
about what is fair and just justice can
about what is fair and just justice can be based on moral legal or ethical
be based on moral legal or ethical
be based on moral legal or ethical concerns and when we think about this
concerns and when we think about this
concerns and when we think about this each one of those different definitions
each one of those different definitions
each one of those different definitions has a different corresponding aim or
has a different corresponding aim or
has a different corresponding aim or desired outcome and again when we’re
desired outcome and again when we’re
desired outcome and again when we’re thinking about defining justice what
thinking about defining justice what
thinking about defining justice what facts do we use to make these
facts do we use to make these
facts do we use to make these definitions and these determinations
definitions and these determinations
definitions and these determinations well there’s differing opinions
well there’s differing opinions
well there’s differing opinions regarding what is factual and accurate
regarding what is factual and accurate
regarding what is factual and accurate for example you might think that fact
for example you might think that fact
for example you might think that fact should be based on scientific empirical
should be based on scientific empirical
should be based on scientific empirical evidence and others might think that
evidence and others might think that
evidence and others might think that factually based on lived experience you
factually based on lived experience you
factually based on lived experience you can already see that there’s potential
can already see that there’s potential
can already see that there’s potential for disagreement there so what do we do
for disagreement there so what do we do
for disagreement there so what do we do we end up looking to others that are
we end up looking to others that are
we end up looking to others that are similar to us and turning to others to
similar to us and turning to others to
similar to us and turning to others to friend or to follow on social media who
friend or to follow on social media who
friend or to follow on social media who have similar views than we do now when
have similar views than we do now when
have similar views than we do now when we do this we’re not necessarily getting
we do this we’re not necessarily getting
we do this we’re not necessarily getting the full picture we can default to
the full picture we can default to
the full picture we can default to something that they call group think you
something that they call group think you
something that they call group think you might have heard of and groupthink is
might have heard of and groupthink is
might have heard of and groupthink is basically when a group values group
basically when a group values group
basically when a group values group cohesion over accurate analysis then we
cohesion over accurate analysis then we
cohesion over accurate analysis then we have that sometimes people are pressured
have that sometimes people are pressured
have that sometimes people are pressured to conform to that group norm and their
to conform to that group norm and their
to conform to that group norm and their ideas and their beliefs become polarized
ideas and their beliefs become polarized
ideas and their beliefs become polarized or extreme and we’ve seen a lot of
or extreme and we’ve seen a lot of
or extreme and we’ve seen a lot of extreme posts on Facebook lately and on
extreme posts on Facebook lately and on
extreme posts on Facebook lately and on other social media sites and as a social
other social media sites and as a social
other social media sites and as a social psychologist it makes me think have we
psychologist it makes me think have we
psychologist it makes me think have we created a new norm do we have new
created a new norm do we have new
created a new norm do we have new expectations around these posts we used
expectations around these posts we used
expectations around these posts we used to say that you should be neutral or
to say that you should be neutral or
to say that you should be neutral or balanced
balanced
balanced and so someone actually said to me where
and so someone actually said to me where
and so someone actually said to me where of all the moderates gone and when you
of all the moderates gone and when you
of all the moderates gone and when you think about that maybe people who have a
think about that maybe people who have a
think about that maybe people who have a more middle-of-the-road opinion about
more middle-of-the-road opinion about
more middle-of-the-road opinion about things are remaining silent maybe they
things are remaining silent maybe they
things are remaining silent maybe they are disengaged and so I wonder how that
are disengaged and so I wonder how that
are disengaged and so I wonder how that will affect your social media presence
will affect your social media presence
will affect your social media presence and I want to move to this this means
and I want to move to this this means
and I want to move to this this means seem to say it all to me and basically
seem to say it all to me and basically
seem to say it all to me and basically it says how to win a political argument
it says how to win a political argument
it says how to win a political argument on facebook I will read it to you one
on facebook I will read it to you one
on facebook I will read it to you one see a post that you literally can’t even
see a post that you literally can’t even
see a post that you literally can’t even believe they could think that way let
believe they could think that way let
believe they could think that way let alone actually say it to start typing
alone actually say it to start typing
alone actually say it to start typing eloquently attempting to tell them why
eloquently attempting to tell them why
eloquently attempting to tell them why they are absolutely full of it three sit
they are absolutely full of it three sit
they are absolutely full of it three sit back and read it to make sure that it
back and read it to make sure that it
back and read it to make sure that it really gets your point across so that
really gets your point across so that
really gets your point across so that they will actually let it sink in and
they will actually let it sink in and
they will actually let it sink in and ultimately change their mind for realize
ultimately change their mind for realize
ultimately change their mind for realize there’s no way you’re ever going to
there’s no way you’re ever going to
there’s no way you’re ever going to change their mind short of an actual
change their mind short of an actual
change their mind short of an actual brain transplant five hit backspace
brain transplant five hit backspace
brain transplant five hit backspace until your typing is deleted and move on
until your typing is deleted and move on
until your typing is deleted and move on and if this exemplifies the feeling of
and if this exemplifies the feeling of
and if this exemplifies the feeling of disengagement on social media sites you
disengagement on social media sites you
disengagement on social media sites you can imagine why people join enclosed
can imagine why people join enclosed
can imagine why people join enclosed groups at least in that particular close
groups at least in that particular close
groups at least in that particular close group where people have shared opinions
group where people have shared opinions
group where people have shared opinions your voice might be heard and at least
your voice might be heard and at least
your voice might be heard and at least it won’t be belittle or invalidated but
it won’t be belittle or invalidated but
it won’t be belittle or invalidated but when we join closed groups we are
when we join closed groups we are
when we join closed groups we are seeking support and potentially we’re
seeking support and potentially we’re
seeking support and potentially we’re avoiding negativity but it’s only good
avoiding negativity but it’s only good
avoiding negativity but it’s only good temporarily because if our goal is to
temporarily because if our goal is to
temporarily because if our goal is to move the world forward to shape tomorrow
move the world forward to shape tomorrow
move the world forward to shape tomorrow to connect with others via social media
to connect with others via social media
to connect with others via social media in a particular way with particular aims
in a particular way with particular aims
in a particular way with particular aims we can’t completely disengage so this
we can’t completely disengage so this
we can’t completely disengage so this reminds me of the first time I tried to
reminds me of the first time I tried to
reminds me of the first time I tried to post something political on facebook
post something political on facebook
post something political on facebook and immediately I would say within
and immediately I would say within
and immediately I would say within minutes people had already started
minutes people had already started
minutes people had already started arguing their side and it became so ugly
arguing their side and it became so ugly
arguing their side and it became so ugly that I eventually deleted the post and
that I eventually deleted the post and
that I eventually deleted the post and ever since then I’ve been concerned
ever since then I’ve been concerned
ever since then I’ve been concerned should i post a political post on
should i post a political post on
should i post a political post on Facebook where am I going to offend
Facebook where am I going to offend
Facebook where am I going to offend someone not really sure what to do so
someone not really sure what to do so
someone not really sure what to do so I’ve been thinking about how it is that
I’ve been thinking about how it is that
I’ve been thinking about how it is that we can truly dialogue across difference
we can truly dialogue across difference
we can truly dialogue across difference how it is that we can engage in
how it is that we can engage in
how it is that we can engage in respectful conversations one of the
respectful conversations one of the
respectful conversations one of the things that I think is important to
things that I think is important to
things that I think is important to think about is what is the other
think about is what is the other
think about is what is the other person’s perspective what’s their motive
person’s perspective what’s their motive
person’s perspective what’s their motive for posting now some people might be
for posting now some people might be
for posting now some people might be posting at a frustration they’ve been
posting at a frustration they’ve been
posting at a frustration they’ve been holding on to this long suppressed
holding on to this long suppressed
holding on to this long suppressed viewpoints and they’re finally just
viewpoints and they’re finally just
viewpoints and they’re finally just ready to let it help and other people
ready to let it help and other people
ready to let it help and other people might be posting out of shock and awe
might be posting out of shock and awe
might be posting out of shock and awe they’re seeking attention they’re
they’re seeking attention they’re
they’re seeking attention they’re convinced they’re right and I would
convinced they’re right and I would
convinced they’re right and I would liken this to a shout from the car or a
liken this to a shout from the car or a
liken this to a shout from the car or a drive-by comment right they don’t want
drive-by comment right they don’t want
drive-by comment right they don’t want to hear what you have to say they just
to hear what you have to say they just
to hear what you have to say they just want to have their say and other people
want to have their say and other people
want to have their say and other people could be posting because they actually
could be posting because they actually
could be posting because they actually want to raise awareness about an issue
want to raise awareness about an issue
want to raise awareness about an issue but you can imagine how difficult it can
but you can imagine how difficult it can
but you can imagine how difficult it can be for them when they’re met with
be for them when they’re met with
be for them when they’re met with someone who’s posting out of frustration
someone who’s posting out of frustration
someone who’s posting out of frustration or to seek attention so remember when
or to seek attention so remember when
or to seek attention so remember when you were younger and you were told to
you were younger and you were told to
you were younger and you were told to pick your battles well this is similar
pick your battles well this is similar
pick your battles well this is similar in some cases you can truly engage with
in some cases you can truly engage with
in some cases you can truly engage with people and in other cases you just have
people and in other cases you just have
people and in other cases you just have to realize that maybe you’re not going
to realize that maybe you’re not going
to realize that maybe you’re not going to be able to sway someone because their
to be able to sway someone because their
to be able to sway someone because their opinion and their ideas are so extreme
opinion and their ideas are so extreme
opinion and their ideas are so extreme best-case scenario you both have similar
best-case scenario you both have similar
best-case scenario you both have similar motives you’re engaging on social media
motives you’re engaging on social media
motives you’re engaging on social media because you want to learn something new
because you want to learn something new
because you want to learn something new and collaborate in that case share your
and collaborate in that case share your
and collaborate in that case share your opinions discuss the merits of the issue
opinions discuss the merits of the issue
opinions discuss the merits of the issue you can even disagree but dispute
you can even disagree but dispute
you can even disagree but dispute constructively focus on the ideas rather
constructively focus on the ideas rather
constructively focus on the ideas rather than the person and most importantly we
than the person and most importantly we
than the person and most importantly we should remember
should remember
should remember it is so important to have these kinds
it is so important to have these kinds
it is so important to have these kinds of conversations because we should hear
of conversations because we should hear
of conversations because we should hear alternative points of views only by
alternative points of views only by
alternative points of views only by truly understanding another person’s
truly understanding another person’s
truly understanding another person’s perspective understanding where they’re
perspective understanding where they’re
perspective understanding where they’re coming from can we begin to determine
coming from can we begin to determine
coming from can we begin to determine and find sites for building community
and find sites for building community
and find sites for building community and for coming together in solidarity to
and for coming together in solidarity to
and for coming together in solidarity to move forward so I must say I do love the
move forward so I must say I do love the
move forward so I must say I do love the cute cat picture I really think it’s
cute cat picture I really think it’s
cute cat picture I really think it’s important every so often for us to sit
important every so often for us to sit
important every so often for us to sit back and to relax and to share stories
back and to relax and to share stories
back and to relax and to share stories with friends and to post really fun
with friends and to post really fun
with friends and to post really fun things but if our goal is to engage in
things but if our goal is to engage in
things but if our goal is to engage in social media in a way in which we have
social media in a way in which we have
social media in a way in which we have meaningful conversations to move people
meaningful conversations to move people
meaningful conversations to move people forward to shape a fair and just world
forward to shape a fair and just world
forward to shape a fair and just world we have to remember that social media
we have to remember that social media
we have to remember that social media can be an important tool for social
can be an important tool for social
can be an important tool for social change and so I ask you how will you use
change and so I ask you how will you use
change and so I ask you how will you use your online voice
your online voice
your online voice [Applause]
”
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