Social Media Moderation Tips
A guide for local action groups to keep social media spaces friendly
Introduction
Congratulations on starting a social media space for your local action group. Despite its problems, untrustworthy billionaire owners, and issues with trolling and hate speech, social media remains one of the best, and quickest, ways to share good news and build your community.
We at Friends of the Earth know that climate disinformation is one of the fastest spreading topics of “fake news” and as climate activists our social media spaces can easily become hotbeds for denial, climate delay tactics (agreeing with us but disagree with the urgency), or downright mean or rude comments.
Here is our guide on how to best deal with it and create a friendly, welcoming space on social media.
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Community Guidelines
Pin a set of “rules” on your social pages
One of the best ways to set up your social’s rules of engagement from the start is to create some community guidelines and pin these somewhere on your group’s page.
A social media page is just like a meeting. You might decide who to invite, who to ban or block from attending again, you might ask disruptive members to be more tactful or ask them to leave. A Facebook group is no different.
Community Guidelines are a great way to remind those in your space to respect your rules. This is your home.
And REMEMBER… asking someone to leave or removing them from your space is not denying their free speech. They can say what they want anywhere on social media… but you have the right to stop them saying it in your group.
Social Media moderation guide for Local Action groups
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Example of Community Guidelines by Facebook. Read more at https://www.facebook.com/community/establishing-membership-and-rules/how-to-write-great-group-rules/
Be strict on “Fake News”
Delete and Ban
There are some comments and keywords you should watch out for and you should feel bold enough to delete these straight away.
No matter what you personally feel some phrases should be removed to keep your page safe from bots, fake accounts, trolls and spreading dangerous, deliberate misinformation.
Also remove swearwords or threats of violence.
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Examples of some of the comments we would immediately delete or set up a rule so they can automatically deleted.
Mythbusting
Spread the climate truth
The Friends of the Earth website is a brilliant resource of articles, blogs and facts about the climate and biodiversity crises,
If you feel that a comment could be a learning experience for the person who disagrees with us you could reply to them with an article or blog from Friends of the Earth – or another trusted site – that helps them understand our positions on topics that are often hotbeds of disinformation.
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Example of a learning experience on our Facebook, talking to someone about over-population
Be lovely
You might change their mind
Sometimes a troll will comment just because they think they’re clever. They’re wasting their time and probably bored. Why would a climate denier be on your page in the first place?
But according to Professor Katharine Hayhoe in her book ‘Saving Us’ she says be nice, and remember we all have something in common so even someone who disagrees with climate action might agree with you on something else.
You may not convince them but someone else reading might like it.
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Example of “giving it a go” – trying to turn a climate denier around
Be fun
It doesn’t hurt to have a bit of fun - just never be mean
When to moderate
This is the age-old question. And that is up to you.
But the best community space on social media is one that is tended to and looked after.
It is worth checking once every few days if you can because groups can be taken over by fake accounts – like this horrible example to the right where a bot has posted numerous times on our page to try and scam people.
You may also want to remove comments that are name-calling, hateful or attack someone based on appearance or profile. These can escalate if not removed quickly.
Be vigilant and remove these as soon as you can to protect your community.
Social Media moderation guide for Local Action groups
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Charities Against Hate Guidelines
These are some tips from the brilliant Guide to Best Practice (charitiesagainsthate.com)
Social Media moderation guide for Local Action groups
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Charities Against Hate Guidelines
These are some tips from the brilliant Guide to Best Practice (charitiesagainsthate.com)
Social Media moderation guide for Local Action groups
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Charities Against Hate Guidelines
These are some tips from the brilliant Guide to Best Practice (charitiesagainsthate.com)
Social Media moderation guide for Local Action groups
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You can always escalate hate speech in your groups to us – community@foe.co.uk
Thank you and Good Luck
Remember to email community@foe.co.uk if you need any help or to tell us about any hateful attacks where you need support
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