Stroud Liberal Democrats

Twitter algorithms

Twitter plays an important part in modern political discourse. It's often the medium through which news breaks (or leaks).

On Twitter, there are 3 main ways we interact with a tweet.

• Liking the tweet
• Replying to the tweet
• Retweeting, or retweeting a tweet with a comment

Beyond this, the twitter algorithm doesn't differentiate between interactions.

If you are commenting on a tweet to agree with it, or disagree with it - it counts the same. And Twitter will show the tweet that you interacted with to your followers, even if you disagree with it.

The same goes for with retweeting with a comment.

So what does this have to do with Pro-Brexit content?

Essentially, it's controversial.

From making ludicrous comments on giving £350 million to the NHS, to attacking immigrants, to anything else.

It's marmite and begging to be contradicted, torn down with hot takes or explained with dry facts.

And when we explain it away, we also promote it to our followers - and not all of them will have the firm Remain convictions that you have.

Well, what should I be doing?

There are two main things.

Firstly, ignore pro-Brexit content.

Your interaction, no matter how good, just grows their reach.

Secondly, create with progressive, liberal, Remain content.

Someone who does this to great effect is Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, the American Democrat Congresswoman.

Positivity, outrage, controversy and humour. She addresses and tackles Trump and Republican attacks, but she does it occasionally, on her own terms and for the most part, she drives the attacks.

See this absolute gem

Today I was asked why we should bother paying interns if they're "getting experience for their résumé."

Here's what we have say about that: pic.twitter.com/vbHoMTLDI3

- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) July 25, 2019

Or for more serious content.

This video was from 1 year ago this week - before my primary & the Fox News cycle.

I flew to the concentration camp where the Trump admin was keeping children they stole from their parents.

Back then, I was voicing my conscience. I still am. #AbolishICEpic.twitter.com/QLyc9MiMsV

- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 18, 2019

Jo Swinson is also fantastic at this.

Leadership campaigns can be tough. Sometimes you need to relax... #JoinJo pic.twitter.com/brtxwTy4XE

- Jo Swinson (@joswinson) June 26, 2019

Or with this biting economic analysis.

Jacob was just showing us what Brexit will do to our economy. #StopBrexit pic.twitter.com/A9ifB66EEB

- Jo Swinson (@joswinson) September 3, 2019

And sometimes all you need is a well-timed gif.

No Boris Johnson, you can't just use an election to sneak through a dangerous No Deal Brexit. The @LibDems will not support an election until Article 50 has been extended. pic.twitter.com/rraLrpeUgX

- Jo Swinson (@joswinson) September 4, 2019

And finally, interact with progressive, liberal, Remain content.

You can make sure your Twitter feed is full of great content by giving a follow to these accounts:

So that's the formula

1. Ignore the Brexiteer bait

2. Use positivity, outrage, controversy and humour to create progressive, Liberal content

3. Share and interact only with tweets you're happy for your followers to see.

And finally

If you want to change the game, fight the air war with us and win over more progressives to the Liberal Democrat cause, why not join the Lib Dem Digital Campaigners?

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