PLANOLY Social Sphere: Week of June 1st, 2020

June 05 2020 | News , Social Media

In one of the most explosive periods in modern American history in the wake of police brutality, racial divide, and a global pandemic, the country’s consciousness is visibly stirring.

Protesters flooded streets and city blocks across the country this week to protest police brutality and the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others.

Social media has been a point of connectivity in this enduring moment, pairing citizens with information on how to donate, ways to mobilize, lessons in allyship, and which leaders to follow. Social media platforms are doing the work, too, many of whom are donating their resources and platforms to amplify the importance of black lives and equality.

This week in the Social Sphere, we’re talking about who’s making a positive impact and helping lay the groundwork for a better future.

Let’s talk change:

In the News

YouTube to Donate $1 Million to the Center for Policing Equity

In an effort to demonstrate “solidarity against racism and violence,” YouTube said in a statement that it would be donating $1 million to the Center for Policing Equity (CFPE). A non-profit research think tank, the CFPE employs research scientists, race and equity experts, and community leaders to build a more fair and just system using data. The organization works directly with police departments to address discriminatory practices and make changes with the data they’ve pooled.

TikTok Develops ‘Creator Diversity Council’ and Pledges $3 Million African-American Led Non-Profits

Although it’s no secret that racial issues have surrounded TikTok since the Chinese-based company began to gain widescale popularity in the states, the company is working to gain the trust of its black users. This week, TikTok has plans to launch a “Creator Diversity Council” that it says will work at “recognizing and uplifting the voices driving culture, creativity, and important conversations on the platform.” This is largely to combat concerns that the company’s algorithm works against amplifying black creatives.

Additionally, TikTok has pledged a $3 million donation to non-profits that directly support the black community along with a separate $1 million donation to address “racial injustice and inequality.” In regards to distrust within the black creative community, TikTok has this to say: “We appreciate being held accountable. We know that getting to a place of trust will take work, but we are dedicated to doing our part as we continue to foster a space where everyone is seen and heard.”

Snapchat Removes President Trump’s Account from Discovery Due to Comments on Protests

Snapchat this week announced that it would remove President Trump’s account from its discovery page due to his negative comments regarding Black Lives Matter protests. Mr. Trump’s profile, which has approximately 1.5 million followers, will no longer appear on the discovery page that showcases elected officials, celebrities, and others of significant influence. Snapchat had this to say about their powerful decision to minimize these negative comments:

“We are not currently promoting the president’s content on Snapchat’s Discover platform. We will not amplify voices who incite racial violence and injustice by giving them free promotion on Discover. Racial violence and injustice have no place in our society and we stand together with all who seek peace, love, equality, and justice in America.”

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Celebrities Are Putting Their Money Where Their Mouth Is

Some with their words, some with their influence, and some with their bank accounts, celebrities from all walks are making their presence known by championing Black Lives Matter protests and initiatives. Here are a few:

Drake posted a screenshot on his Stories of a $100,000 donation to the National Bailout Fund.
The Weeknd donated $100,000 to the National Bailout Fund as well as an additional $400,000 total to both the Black Lives Matter Global Network and Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp.
Chrissy Teigen donated $200,000 to various bailout funds.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds donated $200,000 to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Seth Rogan, Steve Carrell, Janelle Monae, Harry Styles, and many others donated $1,000 to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, causing a train reaction where hundreds of others matched their donation amount. In the past week alone the fund has raised over $20 million.

Online Directories for Black-Owned Businesses Are Just a Download Away

Finding and supporting black-owned businesses in your city is a true sign of support and allyship. And now finding them isn’t nearly as difficult as it once was. Black tech founders and minority CEOs have created apps that will help you locate black-owned restaurants, clothing boutiques, creative agencies, and more. Here are a few you should know:

Black Wall Street - founded in 2014 by a Mandy Bowman, Black Wall Street is an all-encompassing directory for black businesses. The app allows businesses to create a profile or listing for their business and consumers can find those businesses in their area or for when they travel.

WeBuyBlack - Deemed “the Black Amazon,” WeBuyBlack allows consumers to find items you need from Black sellers and black-owned businesses. The company was founded in 2015 by Shareef Abdul-Malik.

Black Nation - Launched in 2018 by its founder Rameish Budhoo, Black Nation is another very thoughtfully designed, fully integrated app that allows black-owned businesses to list their businesses and its services.

EatOkra - Founded by Anthony and Janique Edwards in 2016, EatOkra is all about the eats. The app allows you to find local black-owned restaurants in 35 cities; including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Chicago, Houston, and more.

WhereU Come From - Created in 2016 by Dr. Dionne Mahaffey as a subsidiary of her company, The CPAI Group, Inc., the tech executive created the company to allow users to publish crowd-sourced listings and referrals about Black-owned businesses.

Glossier Donates $1 Million to Support Black Community, Sunday Riley & Biossance Also Pledge Financial Support

Beauty brand Glossier isn’t much for talking; they’re about action. In a very powerful Instagram post, the company pledged to donate $1 million to various black organizations. The pledge amount confirms they’re committed. But their words, their words, affirm that they absolutely, 100% “get it.”

"We stand in solidarity with the fight against systemic racism, white supremacy, and the historic oppression of the Black community," reads a statement posted to Instagram.”

“We will be donating $500K across organizations focused on combating racial injustice: Black Lives Matter, The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The Equal Justice Initiative, The Marsha P. Johnson Institute, and We The Protestors."

“In an effort to make an impact within our own industry, we will be allocating an additional $500K in the form of grants to Black-owned beauty businesses–more details to come on this initiative in June.”

Glossier’s firm commitment to combat racial inequality and support black-owned businesses has inspired other companies in the beauty industry to do the same. Sunday Riley and Biossance have also pledged to make financial contributions to similar organizations like those mentioned in Glossier’s’ statement.

Focus on What Matters

PLANOLY’s Social Sphere was created to inform readers of news and trends in the world of social media. Which, ultimately, is just a window into our lives, our loves, our fears, and the challenges we often face.

That said, the importance of black lives isn’t a trending topic. Racial equality isn’t an issue that will be resolved through social media. But social media platforms can act as a digital town hall where we listen to one another, discuss how to impact change, organize our thoughts, and mobilize our plans. We just have to do the work.