- Conference
- 2019 National LGBT+ Conference
- Date
- 1 January 2019
- Decision
- Carried
Conference recognises the benefits of using social media to bring together communities and groups who have interests in common and congratulates our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender plus (LGBT+) self-organised group on the many and varied ways social media has been used in branches, regions and nationally. We welcome and encourage our members to share and comment on our posts, helping to strengthen our message and spread the word about trade unions, UNISON and that we’re LGBT+ inclusive, as well as highlighting our campaigns. Social media is an excellent way to get our message out quickly and easily. Social media brings the power of media communication to anyone who wants to get their voice heard.
However, conference is concerned that the very reason we use social media; to spread information about our work and campaigns, is the very same reason there is an increasing use by far-right, alt-right and anti-LGBT+ organisations and groups, to spread their hate. Certain far-right groups have become adept at getting false messages across. The uncensored nature of the internet provides the opportunity for those with anti-LGBT+, racist and misogynistic views to promote these to a global audience. Far-right groups target journalists, bloggers and influencers to help spread content. Many use social engineering techniques (the use of deception to manipulate individuals) such as seemingly innocuous memes (an image, video, piece of text, etc., that is copied and spread rapidly by Internet users) to spread their message whilst hiding in plain sight. Memes expressing seemingly innocent sentiments, that many people may identify with, are shared without a second thought. Once shared, or especially if ‘liked’, the algorithms of sites such as Facebook can start to show you further posts from these groups.
Conference is aware that some of our members have, and continue to be, caught out by these messages, often sharing them themselves. This is quite often due ‘surfing the net’ in their spare time, when they are not necessarily ‘on their guard’ to the same degree or because they are quickly glancing at their phones in between other tasks and not fully aware of their actions. Often, if the source or meaning of the message or meme is pointed out to someone, they are shocked and quickly remove the post. Unfortunately, this often doesn’t prevent them falling foul of the same kind of deceit later.
Conference is concerned that, if left unchecked, these posts begin to become the ‘norm’ and we find them harder to challenge. Thinking about what you share or like online should be as important as thinking before you post personal, private information that could be used to commit fraud, identity theft or to steal your belongings.
Conference instructs the national committee to:
1. Include guidance on using social media and how to avoid sharing posts and/or memes from far-right, alt-right and anti-LGBT+ groups and others, who do not share UNISON’s values and aims, in our anti-far right materials and guidance;
2. Work with UNISON communications to develop guidance to help members and branches to become social media aware;
3. Create a simple UNISON LGBT+ ‘Beware That Share!’ meme or similar and develop a social media campaign that the LGBT+ branch and regional self-organised groups can share across social media platforms to highlight this issue;
4. Build a counter campaign around sharing messages of hate and be a source of positive social media on LGBT+ issues to counter negative campaigning;
5. Work with the national executive council, service group committees and other self-organised group committees to raise awareness with our members;
6. Work with learning and organising services to include in social media training events.