Correct The Map
Social Media Toolkit
Thank you for your participation in this important campaign to Correct The Map! Your support helps raise awareness of colonial legacies in global map distortions. Together, we're taking a stand for accurate representation and fairness. Let's continue spreading the message and making a positive impact!
Introduction
Africa is misrepresented on the world maps, and it’s not just a matter of geography — it’s a reflection of how the world views the continent. For decades, the Mercator projection, which distorts the size and shape of countries, has been used globally. This projection shrinks Africa to appear much smaller than it truly is, obscuring the continent's true scale and significance. In reality, Africa is enormous, covering 30.37 million square kilometers, which is roughly 3 times the size of the United States.
The Correct the Map campaign seeks to challenge this long-standing misrepresentation and bring awareness to the importance of accurately representing Africa on the world map. By correcting the map, we aim to shift perceptions and highlight the true scale, power, and potential of the African continent. Accurate map projections are vital not only for education and geography but also for fostering a deeper understanding of Africa's role in the global community.
This campaign is about more than just changing a map. It's about giving Africa the visibility and respect it deserves. By making this change, we empower future generations to view Africa not through a lens of distortion or disrespect, but through one of clarity, respect, and African opportunity. A true perspective leads to a more informed world, and better decision making, particularly for Africans.
The campaign
The campaign's core objective is to begin a global shift in how Africa is represented on world maps. This section of the campaign will aid this shift in securing upwards of 25,000 petition sign-ups to convince those in positions of power, that this cause matters, and Africa’s representation is critical in it’s autonomy.
By leveraging the power of social media and digital events, we’ll drive conversations, share impactful graphics, and challenge the status quo, pushing for a more accurate and respectful map projection.
Goals
Our overall goal is to ensure all maps around the world use accurate maps. With multiple touchpoints activated at once, and as part of the greater campaign, we aim to do this by:
1 | 2 | 3 |
Driving 25,000+ petition signatures | Drive charter awareness | Create conversation |
Platforms
Feel free to use any platform you desire, as long as you tag us (@CorrectTheMap) and add the hashtags below so we can track your efforts. Where you can, add the petition site to any comms.
Hashtags
Campaign specific (mandatory for every post)
Generic use (optional for every post.
It’s important for us to remain united through this campaign. Using the below hashtags boosts visibility, fosters community engagement, and strengthens brand presence, helping us connect and grow together:
Content
The basics
The following content is meant to be posted over the next 2 months. We know you have your own content to post, so we greatly appreciate your partnership on the campaign. We’d love for you to post where it suits you, provided you use the correct mandatory hashtags and tag us @CorrectTheMap so we can track your efforts and add them to our own through the campaign.
Please add the campaign site (www.correctthemap.org ) or the petition site to your bio or communication where possible, and if posting on LinkedIn, Facebook, X or any other such platform, include the petition link at the end of the caption.
Please feel free to edit the creative caption as you see fit, and as suits your brand language and tone. We’re aiming for 25,000 signatures, and every signature counts!
We don’t mind when you post, you’ll know best, and no, you don’t have to post it all.
We appreciate you.
Core message
As an ally, we encourage you to stay consistent with the messaging that we’re communicating across the globe: consistently and in one voice. The three main messages of the campaign are to:
Correct Africa's misrepresentation: Challenging the distortion of Africa’s size and significance caused by the Mercator projection, which shrinks the continent on world maps. We advocate for the global use of the Equal Earth projection.
Shift global perceptions: Raising awareness to help people understand Africa’s true scale, power, and potential, fostering respect and clarity.
Empower future generations: Ensuring Africa is seen through a lens of respect and opportunity, enabling better decision-making and a more informed global community.
Post 1
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Awareness
.
Content brief:
It’s an age-old lie. The world map is not what it seems. We stand for a globe that is ethically and honestly represented. Do you?
Promote the Equal Earth Projection that shows Africa’s true size. Sign the petition today!
#CorrectTheMap #AfricaMatters #SizeMatters
Post 2
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Awareness
Creative
Caption:
Africa has been a victim of colonial lies for centuries, including the truth about its real size, which large enough to fit the United States, China, India, and most of Europe combined. It’s up to #CorrectTheMap. We call for the adoption and worldwide use of the Equal Earth Projection instead of the inaccurate Mercator Map. Stop the lie. Sign the petition today! <petition link>
Sign the petition today! <petition link>
Post 3
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Awareness
Creative
Caption:
It’s important to #CorrectTheMap by using the Equal Earth Projection that shows Africa’s true size. Here’s why:
You have the power to #CorrectTheMap. #SizeMatters
Sign the petition today. <petition link>
Post 4
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Campaign awareness
Creative
Caption:
Africa is as big as the United States, China, India, Japan, and most of Europe — combined. But the widely used Mercator Map doesn’t show this. At all. By using the Equal Earth Projection, we can show Africa, and other previously colonized regions’ cultural and resource diversity, and their significance to the globe in general.
Challenge the misconception.
Sign the petition to #CorrectTheMap today! <petition link>
Post 5
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Awareness
Creative��
Caption:
We are looking for 25,000 people who care enough to make sure that Africa is represented CORRECTLY on the map! Could that be you? We call for an end to the use of the Mercator Projector and for all entities to rather adopt the Equal Earth Projector.
If you care to #CorrectTheMap, sign the petition now. <petition link>
Post 6
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Petition
Creative��
Caption:
It’s time for the greatest show of solidarity, we’re turning our profiles red until we see a map that represents us. Add your voice to thousands of others. Turn your profile picture red, and show that you care for Africa to be represented fairly in the world map.
Tag us or give us a thumbs up in the comments to let us know that you’ve played your part to #CorrectTheMap.
Sign the petition today: <petition link>
Suggestion: please add the red dot as a second frame in your post, so that everyone gets to use it.
Post 7
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Facts
Creative
Caption:
Africa is the world’s second largest continent, after Asia. Measuring total of 30,37 million km².
The current (Mercator) map doesn’t show that. In fact, the world’s dominant powers are shown to be just as big. Ask yourself, what do the superpowers have to lose, by showing their smaller size?
Sign the petition to #CorrectTheMap today.
Post 8
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Awareness
Creative��
Caption:
Downplaying the size of Africa, downplays its potential.
There’s no reason to continue to use the Mercator Map. Now more than ever, it’s important to #CorrectTheMap and show the world as it truly is.
Sign the petition today!
Post 9
Date: As per your content plan
Pillar: Engagement
Creative��
Caption:
We want to hear from you. Why do you think it’s important to #CorrectTheMap? Let us know in the comments, don’t delay!
While we’re at it, please take the time to sign the petition now.
Let’s #CorrectTheMap