Online security for activists

Political and social activists often need to protect their identities and to be able to talk without being overheard. The risks they face, and responses they must take, continue to evolve. News about the increasing use of monitoring and spying by security services is fair warning: dissenters are highly likely to be monitored.

The Guardian (UK), which has had many scoops on Edward Snowden and national and international spying, has published an article with "21 tips, tricks and shortcuts to help you stay anonymous online"

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/mar/06/tips-tricks-anonymous-privacy "Avoiding being tracked online is nearly impossible, but here are a few ways to reduce the risk".

For LGBTI activists (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and others), revealing their gender identities can be deemed illegal in many countries. This guide for LGBTI activists in sub-Saharan Africa therefore provides clear warnings about the dangers faced. 

"Digital security tools and Tactics for the LGBTI community in Sub-Saharan Africa" provides a free set of tools and guides which it dubs "Security in a Box".

While these methods are designed for a specific community, most can be used by activists for other causes and in other locations. 

The areas covered are:

Part I – Context

Introduction

Digital attacks against the African LGBTI community

How to assess your digital security risk

Part II – How-to Booklet

Protect your computer from malware and hackers

Protect your information from physical threats

Create and maintain secure passwords

Protect the sensitive files on your computer

Recover from information loss

Remove hidden metadata from files

Destroy sensitive information

Keep your Internet communication private

Remain anonymous and bypass censorship on the internet

Protect yourself and your data when using social networking sites

Protect yourself and your data when using LGBTI dating sites

Use mobile phones as securely as possible

Use smartphones as securely as possible

Use Internet Cafés as securely as possible

Direct link: https://www.securityinabox.org/communities/02
(via 76crimes.com).

40 ways to improve your social media posts

A simple but powerful list. What are your secret tips?

1. Write with a consistent, natural and conversational tone of voice. 

2. Focus on your readers. Understand their interests, needs, desires and motivations. 

3. Focus on timely topics but add your own voice. 

4. Add value to a post by encouraging discussion, asking a genuine question (advice or opinion).

5. A post should be clear and easily understood.

6. Avoid simply promoting your own company or work. 

Twitter (follow me: @Scott_McQuade)

7. Post 4-10 times a day.  

8. Avoid repeating a tweet more than once a day. Don’t automate the same tweet.

9. Include 1-3 relevant hashtags in tweets to help people who search by key words.

10. Include links, to get 86% more engagement.

11. Use images for twice the engagement rate.

12. Shorter tweets get read and re-tweeted more (under 100 characters).

13. Use no more than 130 characters, so people can retweet and add hashtags etc.

14. Live tweeting of events helps people follow along: nominate a clear, simple hashtag.  

15. Post during working hours for 30% more engagement.

16. Ask for re-tweets of important posts: it drives 12x more re-tweets. 

Facebook (like my Facebook page) 

17. Consistent quality matters more than quantity.  

18. No more than 4 posts a day.

19. Short messages work best. Long messages are okay if they’re compelling.  

20. Timing matters, but your audience is international. Spread posts throughout the day. 

21. Don’t forget weekends! Readers are more engaged when they have more time. 

22. Photos attract readers, responses and re-shares. 

23. Emoticons receive a 59% higher engagement rate, but use sparingly.

24. Explicitly ask readers to like/comment: it drives higher engagement.

Google+ (put me in your Google+ circle)

25. Include an image to grab attention.

26. Include links or post web articles (web links usually include images).

27. Pose a comment or question to encourage discussion.

28. Monitor discussions and return to the post to interact with readers.

29. Hashtags are automated, but make sure they are appropriate and delete if needed. Include 1-3 hashtags at the end of your post, but only if needed.

30. Keep it short: 1-3 paragraphs. Only a few lines are immediately visible, so get to the point.

31. Share with specific circles as well as making posts public. Include usernames in the post or comments to draw their attention or give thanks, but do it sparingly.

LinkedIn (if I know you, let's get LinkedIn)

32. Only share high quality content. 

33. Share new, informative material. Readers are happy to learn.  

34. Be a thought-leader by only talking about your area of expertise. Join relevant communities.

35. Only discuss professionally relevant topics. LinkedIn is not a general discussion forum.

36. Start conversations with a thought-provoking statement or question. 

37. Avoid simply promoting a corporate initiative or service or posting a news story. Instead, put it in context, pose a question and invite comments.

38. Prepare to engage with discussants: don’t post and run. 

39. Don’t simply post a link to a website. Put the content on LinkedIn for better engagement.

40. Share your expertise: add your own tips below!

Most of these commonsense principles also apply at Tumblr, YouTube and other social media sites.

Inspire people with your stories

UNDP Administrator Helen Clark is the most active head of an international organization on Twitter, according to Twiplomacy. Here, she sums up her commitment to social media, telling stories about international development and sharing tales of success.
"Development is about about stories. it is about stories of achievement, of progress, of people's lives being better than they were," she says. "People want to hear about this. They don't want to hear about all the failures, they want to hear about what difference are you making.
Development is about a lot more than the money you invest in it. It is about inspiring people to take action themselves."

Social media research

Update 30 May 2012: Internet Trends published by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers for the D10 Conference. Slides by Mary Meeker here. Scribd document here. Notable: continued rapid growth in users, with mobile internet set to grow strongly.  Largest user populations are China, USA and India, but USA is now mature, ranking only 8th in terms of growth behind late-comers such as Indonesia, Philippines, Nigeria and Mexico.


The internet: the 'quiet engine' of Africa.




Previously
Facebook and Twitter are only part of the puzzle, and their penetration is much lower outside the USA and Western Europe. If you want to understand the social media environment, you need to consider the role of Orkut in India and Brazil, vKontakt in Russia, and Qzone, Renren and Weibo in China. 

Don't forget the newcomers such as Google+, Pinterest, Instagram, Reddit, Imgur, etc. etc.

To learn about social media trends around the world, the following research is a good place to start. Other research is available online but is locked behind paywalls.


Some highlights:

• 65% of online adults use social networking sites (August 2011). Social media users are getting older, as usage widens, says a Pew Internet survey.
• Almost all US companies will be increasing their investments in social media in 2012, according to a study by consultancy Booz & Company and Buddy Media. Advertising, public relations and customer services would mostly benefit as will market research and recruitment. 

Worldwide trends - research papers (PDFs):

• Twitter use in Africa (Q4 2011): http://goo.gl/fHlv3
• Social media in Latin America (Q1 2011): http://goo.gl/dOaHT
• Emerging Media, Emerging Economies, Emerging Democracies (Q3 2011): http://goo.gl/d960k
• http://goo.gl/5ucah
• Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2010–2011: Enabling Tomorrow’s Digital World (ITU. Q1 2011): http://goo.gl/lA73G
  Summary: http://goo.gl/YqH8d
• Building Engagement in Online Communities BRIC by BRIC (2011): http://goo.gl/A84l1
• The Global Social Media Check-up, Burson-Marsteller (Q1 2010): http://goo.gl/E9sGq
• Overview of ICT & Digital Content in 20 Countries (Q2 2009): http://goo.gl/wx48Y

Usage patterns

• Trends in Social Media: Persistence and Decay. HP Social Computing Lab (2011?). Undated empirical study finds that if a topic resonates with Twitter users it is more likely to become a trending topic. The level of user activity and the number of followers is not so relevant. 
• New tools displace blogging in fast-growing US companies. The 2011 Inc. 500 Social Media Update finds blogging,  message boards, video blogging, podcasting and MySpace are declining for the first time since 2007 in favour of new platforms and tools including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, texting, downloadable mobile apps and Foursquare: http://goo.gl/M3I98
• 2012 Social Media Marketing Industry Report. Social Media Examiner. Single survey shows growth overall, marketers keen for returns on investment, and growth in video content, Google+: http://goo.gl/OjYNc

Websites of interest:

• SearchEngineWatch - Trends in 2012:
  http://goo.gl/6oIRu
• European Travel Commission - New media trend watch: http://goo.gl/ZszZj
• Wikipedia list of social networking sites:http://goo.gl/5OZaF

US accountants not counting the benefits
Accounting professionals are accustomed to measurable results, which might be why - in the absence of strong measures of the return on investment - a late 2011 survey found a lack of commitment to social media.

Measuring your influence

Can social media work as a for-profit game? The game Empire Avenue may be just the beginning of new ways to monetize social media activity and influence.


Social media indices such as Kred, Klout and PeerIndex have illustrated the almost universal human need for peer support and influence. Sites like BrandYourself are making a business out of the the desire for people to improve their online profile and search rankings. Humorists are even striking back.


Using a range of algorithms, these tools track your usage of networks such as Twitter, Facebook and, in the case of Klout at least, Google+. Add Flickr, YouTube and a myriad of other networks. 


The general assumption seems to be, the more people give you a 'like' or a '+1', re-tweet, comment or recommendation, the more influential you are. And your activity in respect of other people adds to their influence on you.


It seems to be early days for these systems, but some high-ranking people have found that there are tangible benefits, including free car hire, theatre tickets and the like. The added fame and fortune brings its own rewards. 


Sadly, many people have been so engrossed with the need to increase their scores, they are focusing on 'gaming the system' and largely ignoring the reasons they joined these networks in the first place and which might have more bearing on their actual influence.


A recent story in WIRED magazine profiles Klout and the angst of trying to get a better score. I particularly like the final paragraph:


Over time, I found my eyes drifting to tweets from folks with the lowest Klout scores. They talked about things nobody else was talking about. Sitcoms in Haiti. Quirky museum exhibits. Strange movie-theater lobby cards from the 1970s. The un-Kloutiest’s thoughts, jokes, and bubbles of honest emotion felt rawer, more authentic, and blissfully oblivious to the herd. Like unloved TV shows, these people had low Nielsen ratings—no brand would ever bother to advertise on their channels. And yet, these were the people I paid the most attention to. They were unique and genuine. That may not matter to marketers, and it may not win them much Klout. But it makes them a lot more interesting.

To illustrate how engrossing and addictive this trend has become, Empire Avenue is turning social media indexing into a virtual stock market. The site gives members points, or virtual currency, for their social media activity, including their blogs. 


Members can invest their points buying 'shares' in other members. Earn money on your portfolio of social media stock and you can pay a dividend to your shareholders. If you are not earning fast enough you can buy more points for real world money - and that is where it gets very interesting. This is described by many members as a 'game', which doubtless gets around securities laws. But it is clear that the mix of egos, popularity and real cash is drawing lots of attention and could prove seriously addictive!


Empire Avenue is obviously trying to hit the hot buttons that draw people in the biggest numbers. Their forums have a visual style that reminds me of  Pinterest and similar fashionable sites. Mashable previously described it as seriously addictive. You don't have to look far to find a day-trader mindset and people who might have previously been kept busy selling multi-level marketing schemes (among the many others who are clearly in it for fun). Whether the Empire Avenue model is sustainable remains to be seen, but we have not seen the last of social media rankings.

10 ways to influence with social media

Want to increase your influence online using social media? 


Forbes writer Haydn Shaughnessey says your social media profile can help your career and add to the value of information found online. 

That's why he put together a guide to the basics of developing influence online, which covers the following issues (with some thoughts of my own): 

1. Planning:
   Think about your topics. Do your research and add value to the raw information. Maybe do a short series of posts about an issue. Pace yourself so that your posts are regular but do not overwhelm readers or make you invisible during lengthy downtime.
2. Where to contribute:
   Do you think different? Know yourself and what you want to say, then find the right platform. You might find it hard being a liberal in a conservative forum, but then you might also attract more interest (please don't be a miserable troll!).
3. Growing your influence:
   Know where the audiences are and be visibile. For your topic that could be LinkedIn or Pinterest, Reddit or 4Chan. Write with your audience in mind and follow others doing the same. Be useful to others and you will likely become more important to them.
4. Writing for the web:
   What is your 'voice'? Authoritative, conversational, detailed, descriptive, poetic? Use snappy titles. Intrigue and excite readers, but please don't infuriate them!
5. Feedback and eliminating errors:
   Try to check your work and don't bite if people correct your grammar and spelling. Ask friends to tell you - truthfully - how clear and engaging is your writing?
6. Distribution channels:
   Blog and re-post your items on Google+ and Facebook. Tweet your blogs, or blog in an established location (Huffington Post got lots of free help as bloggers sought a more popular platform than their isolated blogs).
7. Comments and tweets:
   Does your blog needs comments, or is it enough that you have readers who re-share your ideas? Do you want to stir debate or share information? Do you comment on others' posts, re-share, or both?
8. Search engine optimization and titles (headlines):
   Use hashtags, labels and keywords. "Google 'how to create good titles'," Shaughnessey says. 
9. Audience size:
   How many is enough? To earn money from advertising? To fill a petition?
10. Metrics and benchmarks:
    Who are your peers and competitors? How should you measure success?

In the spirit of developing knowledge, why not contribute your own ideas in the comments below, or on Haydn's blog.

See also: 
How best to use Google+
Social media research

How to best use Google+

Google+ is fast shaping up as meaningful forum to discuss current affairs and explore science and culture. After one year it hasn't yet been flooded with provocateurs and spammers. But with an estimated 100+ million users, G+ seems to be a hive of intellectual activity that goes beyond early adopters and the intellectual elite.

A significant number of journalists, politicians, educators and community leaders are using it and some are declaring Google+ to be their primary social network. G+ is both a useful source of information and an opportunity to raise awareness and engage with audiences.

To demonstrate this, G+ user Ole Ole Olson has developed a very helpful guide for activists and non-profit organizations to use Google+ effectively. His Progressives Guide to Social Media also covers Facebook, Twitter and sites such as Reddit and Digg. 

The G+ guide includes tips on using circles for selectively finding and sharing information, and he links to some existing circles of key influencers, ranging from journalists, activists and scientists through to specific interest groups such as vegetarians. He also provides links to the institutional pages of major institutions and campaigns, from Mother Jones, Wired and Wikileaks, to Amnesty International and Change.org.

“A good tactic is to write a thoughtful short paragraph about a news article, then paste that comment on every social media site.  If you are reposting something shared with you, always make sure you follow etiquette by attributing where you found the information.” Since circles allow you to share information selectively, I also recommend you also ensure that what you post is relevant to each of your audiences.

As Olson notes, there is a lot of functionality in Google+. Search is a given, and there is also on-demand video conferencing (hangouts), chat and photo and video storage. Since YouTube is owned by Google, YouTube videos are better integrated and play within the G+ site. Others, such as Vimeo, take users to a new web page. 

Some of the basics are also covered in this guide, like the requirement for a Gmail account and the need to use your real name: a potential sticking point for repressed activists needing anonymity (tip: a feasible alias can be used). Google has also streamlined its privacy policies and integrated its accounts more, so you can link your YouTube account to your Google+ account, if you wish.

To make best use of the site, Olsen suggests a clear profile and photo, plus external links. Adding pre-made circles can quickly create an audience as members follow you in return. 

Posting original or useful content can raise your profile, and some users develop community by prompting discussion around specific issues. While that can be an opening for spammers and others to add provocative or irrelevant comments, G+ allows you to block malcontents. On the other hand, you can also see who is voting for you (+1) and re-sharing your posts. Ways to share your G+ posts with your Facebook and Twitter accounts are also discussed.

Find Scott McQuade on Google+ here: http://goo.gl/vLIjk

See also: 10 ways to influence with social media

Journalism vs social media

The impact of social media on commercial journalism is often overestimated, and the audience size is still limited compared with mainstream news media. Yet the impact is real enough and likely to grow: job losses at CNN in 2011 were just one example, as the company makes greater use of public-sourced videos and photos in its iReports.

There is still a role for professional journalists, and for good reason. Most are trained, experienced and bound by professional principles and laws. They typically pride themselves for sifting the 'truth' or at least verifying facts before publishing. That includes not taking tweets at face value and seeking out balanced, expert opinions. Most journalists also know how to tell a good story, and some have a large personal following.

Of course not all journalists are up to this standard, and some bloggers have huge followings and some maintain very high standards of accuracy and balance. Hearing directly from a law maker or a scientist can be more powerful and detailed than traditional journalism allows.

Social media is now having a big impact in modern journalism, as this report by Paul Sawers of The Next Web attests. Based on discussions at the Social Media Week in London in February 2012, he quoted Paul Lewis, Special Projects Editor at the Guardian, on four key ways that social media is shaking things up:

1. Finding people (crowdsourcing information, witnesses or other key figures in a story);
2. Creating personalities from activists, bloggers and others who would otherwise not be given a voice;
3. Major events like the London riots e.g. following leads and chasing stories via Twitter, and keeping readers informed ahead of a formal publishing schedule;
4. Small actions making a big impact (the 'butterfly effect') e.g. a tweet containing very valuable information that sets off a big story.

There are many millions of people using Google+, Twitter, Facebook and other social media. Yet these channels do not fully represent public opinion. The tweets and posts will continue to represent special interests until social media is accessible to the urban poor, rural communities, the illiterate, the oppressed and people living and working in every country of the world. Until then, social media offers activists and other special interests the opportunity of a higher profile than they otherwise might get in a crowded media environment.

Social media is a growing communication channel, but there remains an important role for professional journalists to filter and validate that information.