When we talk about the future of tech, we talk about imagination. So I guess the future of more equitable digital spaces really relies on our capacity and us having the time to imagine something different (Rima Sghaier, interview 2024-07-19).
Last month, The Engine Room shared our latest report: “Exploring a transition to alternative social media platforms for social justice organizations in the Majority World.” The report explores how social justice organizations in the majority world are navigating mainstream and alternative platforms, seeking to understand what it would take for a mass migration to more ethical, community-driven alternatives.
As part of our research process, we asked participants to describe what is needed to create more inclusive and equitable online spaces that support marginalized communities and promote social justice. This post offers their visions for how we can build a future for alternative social media, free from the dominance of centralized, commercial, data extractive platforms.
By the community, for the community
One of the strongest themes that emerged from our conversations with experts is the need for community-centered platforms. Experts emphasized that alternative platforms should be spaces where marginalized communities are not only participants or users, but also co-creators and decision-makers. As Fiorella Ferrari explained, “the ideal world in social media platforms, regardless of the underlying mechanisms or the technology being used, will always depend on the people.”
Ownership and governance are key to this vision. Rather than being controlled by tech giants who prioritize profit, these platforms can be designed and managed by the communities who use them, allowing for greater agency and empowerment. For example, spaces created by and for women or queer communities may offer a safe environment where shared values – such as the protection of human rights – are paramount.
Designed from the margins
Experts we spoke to stressed that mainstream platforms often reflect the values of the Minority World, at times encoding biases that may unintentionally exclude people and/or experiences from the Majority World. A reimagined social media ecosystem must consider the needs of the most marginalized and ensure accessibility in terms of language, connectivity, and abilities.
Participatory design, where communities have a say in how platforms are built, is critical towards making this imagined future a reality. As one of the experts we spoke to explained, “You have to ask how people in other spaces, particularly in rural areas, conceive of having these platforms” (Fiorella Ferrari, interview).
This means developing platforms that work in low-bandwidth environments or integrating low-tech solutions like SMS or community radio. It may also include having platforms that are image, voice, or video based to foster connecting possibilities for and with people who communicate primarily through non-text based mediums.
Non-commercial
A recurring theme throughout our research was the need to move away from the commercialized, profit-driven nature of today’s mainstream social media platforms that operate within frameworks of surveillance capitalism – collecting and selling people’s data. Experts we spoke to highlighted the importance of creating different types of platforms, ones that minimize all types of extractivism, including that “of people, ideas and territories” (Fiorella Ferrari, interview). Minimizing extractivism means creating a platform that is built based on collective care and consent and that is adaptable to the diverse needs of different communities and territories.
Creating space to imagine alternatives
To facilitate a transition, civil society organizations need the space and resources to imagine a different future in which social media can contribute to the construction of more inclusive and equitable digital spaces and communities. Civil society groups need to be positioned to explore current barriers towards using mainstream platforms and alternatives, and funders need to provide grants and resources that give civil society organizations the time and space to imagine, convene, and co-create innovative solutions to common challenges.
Creating spaces of hope and joy, free from violence
In a world where many online spaces are rife with hate speech, harassment, and violence, social justice organizations we spoke to envision platforms that offer open and supportive environments to marginalized communities who represent diverse identities. These platforms should be designed to foster joy, connection, and positive self-expression. As described by Dovan Rai, emphasis should be placed on creating “pleasure-centric, positive and empowering online experiences” (Dovan Rai, interview 2024-07-23). Such spaces would not only support social justice work, but would also contribute to the mental wellbeing of social justice workers, helping to prevent burnout and exhaustion, and fostering a sense of community and belonging. More investment in smaller, highly-contextualized online platforms can provide safer and more enriching environments for communities. Also, more support is needed to ensure developers and community leaders can work together to keep their communities safe online.
Towards a justice-driven pluriverse
Rather than supporting a full migration to a handful of new alternative platforms, experts we spoke to expressed an interest in a pluriverse of online spaces where social justice organizations can navigate between mainstream and alternative platforms depending on their needs. This justice-driven approach allows social justice organizations to reach their target audiences while also fostering equitable and safer spaces for marginalized communities with whom they work. By decentralizing power, these platforms can help to challenge the dominant tech structures that help perpetuate inequality and abuse online.
Learn more
If you’d like to learn more about our work on understanding current practices, needs, and challenges of social justice organizations on mainstream and alternative social media platforms, as well as our research into strategies and ways of creating more equitable and inclusive online spaces, be sure to check out our full report here, or get in touch with us at hello@theengineroom.org.