Keeping It Currant: a newsletter at the intersection of the creator economy & social impact

Welcome to the latest issue of Keeping It Currant, a newsletter by Social Currant & Girl and the Gov® focused on sharing insights on how to navigate the intersection of the creator economy and the political and social impact space. Before you scroll, make sure to pop in and say hello in the Social Currant creator-dedicated Slack channel, here.

CREATOR CIRCLE

Chat with fellow creators

If you’ve ever tried to explain what you do to your friends that aren’t content creators and/or the things that come across your desk as a result, you’ve likely gotten quite a few bewildered and confused looks. Cue, the Creator Circle – where creators get to speak with other creators about being creators [the girls that get it, get it, ya know?]. From discussing recent content, setting goals, and chatting through the stressors that come with online life, the Creator Circle provides an opportunity to chat through it all with people that get it. The chats are virtual and  led by Laurenzo.

When & Where: Virtual — Wednesday, October 30, 2024; 6:00pm EST
RSVP: If you’re interested in attending, please email [email protected] 

FAQS

Classic questions, quick answers

Deciding to add social impact and/or politically-focused content into your post line-up can come with questions. And for the answers to some of the questions, look here:

“Do I owe someone that follows me a response if they comment on a political post of mine?” 

The short answer is no. It’s your page and overall, you determine the rules of engagement, meaning you can choose to respond or not to at all. You can even choose to respond sometimes and not others. However, the question that is at core here, is do you respond if the comment contrasts with your views? Again, you decide, but a few lines of thought to consider before you do:

• Is the comment or question that they have posed in good faith? Does the commenter appear to want to learn more or are they looking for a contrarian fight? If you feel as though the comment or question is in good faith, it could prove to be an educational moment [for both involved] and also an example of positive discourse on an issue area. If it’s an aim to fight or just gain attention, then we’d generally say pass on responding/giving it airtime.

• Do you feel equipped to answer the comment or question? Could you do so [answer] in a level-headed, fact-based way? If so, then it provides a moment in which to further share your POV. You do however open the door to an unpredictable rabbit hole, so if you’re going to respond set a personal boundary beforehand and know when to walk away from the conversation if need be. 

• Would moving the conversation to DMs be helpful? If the commenter seems to want to engage and ask questions, try to move the convo to DMs. You don’t lose the engagement and you are able to have a long-form conversation that has more space for nuance. It also tests whether the commenter wants a conversation/to learn a new POV, or if they just want a public stage for attention. Do remember, anything you yap about in DMs can be screenshotted and shared.

“My audience locations are varied. If I’m posting voter info, how do I manage that?”

There are a few options here. The first three that come to mind are:

• You can provide a tool/resource that has national reach like this one and aggregates users to info in their area. 

• Or for another method, you can take a look at the top five locations via analytics. Pull area-specific links and information for each, and share with a hook like “I know that a lot of my community is from XYZ, so I wanted to make sure you all had the right tools for your area.”

• Similarly, you can keep tools local to you. If your location is a part of your content, you can tap into that identity by sharing resources for voters in your neck of the woods, furthering that connection between you, the location, and your community in that location.

With posting info also comes questions. If you’re not sure of something, don’t guess. Send the person asking the question to a resource that can help. It’s always better to say “you don’t know” than to share wrong information out there.

Have questions on how you can add political content into your own content pillars? Drop us a line [and a question] at [email protected] for consideration in an upcoming FAQs segment.

THE FINAL STRETCH

Tips for the last leg of pre-election & for the week that follows

The election news cycle is poppin’ off – and it will continue to do so through the certification of the election [post e-day]. That means loads of information circulating, and a need to responsibly share helpful, meaningful facts, data, and updates with audiences. A few guidelines to keep in mind while keeping your followers in the know:

• Having citable sources → When reporting on campaign news – especially post-election day when votes are being tallied, ensure that you have credible sources that you can attribute the information you are sharing to. For example, if you’re telling your audience that a Congressional race in Florida has been called, be able to cite the official sources declaring who the winner is in that race. An important note: candidates in the past have declared victory before their races have been called. Do not rely on candidate claims for election results – rely on the data.

• Slow your roll → It is always better to be accurate, than to be first. The amount of energy circulating around the election and election news is contagious – and that’s great. However, don’t let it make you post rashly or without all of the facts in the spirit of being “first to report.” Slow and steady wins the race is how the old adage goes, and it's certainly applicable to reporting on elections.

• No fighting, plz → There are times and places for internet yap and yell fests. Election day is not one of them. Focus on sharing critical election information, not getting into internet brawls. The formula should be: No distractions + foot on the gas on facts. 

• Team work makes the dream work → And to continue on the point from above, work with your fellow creator friends. Support their content and share content back that they can help distribute as well. Also add comments to their work to show support, and visa versa. Work together, not against each other – leave the ego at the door, TYSM.

RESOURCE ROUND-UP

Something to save, something to use

• For the creator looking to share a way for their followers to support the Harris-Walz campaign, sharing Scroll for Kamala, is a great option. It’s a GOTV method that someone can do from their couch that has people comment positive POVs/insights on TikTok and Instagram content that highlights campaign messaging, with the goal of getting in front of more people. 

• If you’re looking for clean, official content to share on behalf of the Harris-Walz campaign, the DNC content library should be stop number one on the hit parade. The site features downloadable graphics across issue areas and usable across major social media platforms. 

• For the Threads creator or Threads-creator-to-be, Meta launched a thorough page dedicated to sharing tips n’ tricks on how to use the platform and what the use of each feature can do for your content. Give it a read and share here.

• Social media managers – this resource is for you. The #VIRAL newsletter drops content trends and ideas into inboxes every Tuesday that can be used for and by political orgs/elected/candidates, and so on. The latest issue has over 40 content ideas to use before and after election day. Subscribe here.

• Voting early in places where that option is available is the bees knees – and telling followers about that option [and why it’s hella helpful] is easier than ever with this toolkit from Vote Early Day. If there’s an FAQ out there, they have it covered.

• Texas creators and/or creators that have large audiences in Texas, this toolkit from Team Colin Allred for U.S. Senate provides ways that you can support the campaign on social media.

CURRANT AUDIO LIBRARY

TikTok audios to use for election szn

• Use this audio to highlight Beyoncé endorsing Kamala Harris [and throw some dance moves out there].

• Use this audio to showcase unity amongst political groups or people.

• Use this audio as a Swiftie voting blue.

• Use this audio to highlight who/what you’re voting for this election szn.

• Use this audio to highlight exactly what the audio says – Kamala at the top, Trump at the bottom.

HOW THEY CREATED IT

The BTS with creators that have knocked it out of the park

Meet Sylvia Salazar: I break down the complexities of U.S. politics in a relatable, no-nonsense way so you can see how it impacts your daily life—and what you can do about it. With a unique perspective rooted in my community, I’m here to help everyone stay informed, get involved, and make real change happen. Follow Sylvia on Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and TikTok. 

Why is making political content so important to you?

“Making political content matters to me because politics affects every part of our lives—from the air we breathe to the food we eat and the schools our kids attend. Even though it can be frustrating, I want to help people, especially in the Latino community, understand how these issues impact them. My goal is to break down the complexities of politics and empower others to take action and create real change.”

How do you get ideas for content? What does this process look like for you?

“Sometimes I get inspired by content outside my niche and decide to try it out with a fresh twist. But honestly, my best ideas often hit me when I’m totally unplugged, doing something to recharge and not even thinking about work.”

When thinking of a dream content collab, what would it be? Who would it be with?

“Oh! This is a fun question and really hard to answer! I would faint if I ever got to meet Rachel Maddow… so that would be a dream collab but the problem is that I probably wouldn’t be able to speak. Also, I would love to do more collaborations with some of the brands under Accelerate Change’s portfolio.” 

What drew you to the niche that you’re in?

“I noticed there weren’t many voices speaking directly to the Latino community about politics, especially outside of the mainstream outlets like Univisión and Telemundo. I started Tono Latino to break down complex political issues in a relatable way that empowers people to engage and take action. My mission is to make sure our community is informed and involved in the political process.”

How do you balance online versus offline time?

“I’ve gotten really good at setting boundaries for myself, and honestly, being a mom has a lot to do with it. I don’t want my daughter to grow up thinking it’s normal for me to always be staring at my phone. So, when we’re doing homework or sitting down for dinner, there’s a no-screens rule in place. It’s also become my way of hitting reset—stepping away from the constant noise actually helps my brain recharge. And funny enough, that’s usually when I get my best ideas for new things to try!”

HEADLINES

News at a glance from ‘round the creator sphere

• Social Media Today: Instagram Says Including Your Own Logo on a Reel is Fine

• Hollywood Reporter: Netflix Adds New Feature That Makes It Easy to Share Clips From Shows on Social Media

• CNN Business: How social media clippers have become some of the most powerful outlets of the 2024 campaign

• The Verge: A TikTok alternative called Loops is coming for the fediverse

• Engadget: Mosseri confirms Instagram reduces video quality for posts that aren’t raking in views

LET’S GET SOCIAL

Stop by our other channels, and say hi!