We know that one of the most influential and trusted sources of information on the conflict are people’s friends and families.

We’re not going to be able to use social media to change the world but we can use it to share messages and information so our non-Jewish colleagues, friends and family can understand the conflict and rising antisemitism from our perspective.  Here are some guidelines to help you engage.

Stay safe, stay positive and don’t share the negative 

• Try and be positive whenever possible.
  
• Follow community accounts and friends.
• Amplify (re post, share) others.

Do not share harmful or negative images and posts. Not only are you helping the people who created the messages, but you may be accidentally boosting their popularity while exposing your friends and family to hateful content. We believe it is most reflective of the Jewish tradition and culture in our community to post and re-post inspiring and educational stories, memes and images. Of course, it’s absolutely up to you, but in keeping with tikkun olam, making sure your online presence is positive is best for all of us. This includes ensuring that you are not being overly dramatic or over stating things in your post: a little bit of moderation goes a long way. Remember that a lot of people use hyperbole, exaggeration and half-truths as a communications tool to break through the barrage of information. Being inflammatory may work in the short-term, but it does so at a long-term cost: credibility. Do not respond to hateful messages or attacks. Take a screenshot, block individuals and report them to the social media platform. If you are feeling threatened, contact the police and then report the incident. Never share personal information online.

Help Each Other Out, Not the Trolls 

• Help us extend our reach – follow official community accounts and those of community leaders
  • Commenting and sharing boosts our reach, so thank you for your help 

• Be thoughtful – try to engage in conversations where you may actually be able to influence someone’s perspective 
• Don’t be quick to call someone an antisemite: try and address the challenging content rather than make assumptions about the person posting it. 
  • If a friend or family member is sharing something that is untrue or harmful, try reaching out via a direct message as a first step 

• Don’t feed the “trolls”: many people are online specifically to provoke a reaction from you. Don’t give them what they want – ignore them, block them, be the bigger person 
• Sarcasm isn’t an effective way to convince someone that you’re right 

The Truth is Our Friend 

• There is a lot of false information circulating – make sure you verify things before you share them 
• There are some pretty common myths and stereotypes about our community, Israel and the conflict – get to know some of the more common ones 
• Some great resources can be found here.

Be Kind to Yourself 

• Make sure you know your boundaries, and step away from social media if you need to 
• There are mental health resources available to you: reach out if you need help