Violence is embedded in mainstream culture, and it has seeped into digital spaces. White terrorists live stream their attacks, and we constantly see police killing our people.
This can do major damage to our mental health! But we can protect our peace by controlling our social media feeds. Try these three tips.
#1: Autoplay Settings
Social media companies tend to have a hands-off approach to moderating content; we can't rely on them to protect us from anti-Black media. Try disabling the auto-play feature on social media and web browsers so you only view videos when you choose to press “play.”
#2: Mute & Unfollow
Use Instagram's mute feature to stop seeing unwanted harmful content. You can mute specific words, phrases, and even emojis on Twitter. If that's not enough, unfollowing news accounts could be helpful. Then you won't accidentally view racist violence, and can instead choose to engage with news at your discretion.
#3: Follow Favorites
Tik Tok and Instagram allow users to view content created by their favorites or friends. Choosing content from your loved ones or creators you trust could help you avoid unwanted anti-Blackness.
We have the power to control what we're consuming online. We deserve to live without repeatedly witnessing violence against us on our social media feeds. Protecting our peace is crucial to our wellness and overall liberation!