Citizen journalism in a time of pandemic…
How to deny reality
Improbable that it might seem, the admins of a facebook set up to encourage migration to Tasmania have decided to disallow any post about the coronavirus, its impact on the state and the prospect of moving there.
The facebook calls itself That’s it! I’m moving to Tassie. On their note about the decision, the admins explain that the pressure to moderate comments has become too much, so they are switching comments off. In the same message they say that “posts related to the Covid-19 virus will not be approved”.
In taking this action the admins devalue the utility of their facebook. That is because the value of facebooks like this is directly related to information posted in comments. That is amply demonstrated in another facebook about migrating to Tasmania. On Moving to Tasmania-Tips and Chats, people calmly discuss how to make the move and issues they might face in doing so. The posts and the comments offer grounded, usually firsthand advice to people planning to move to the island state.
The move was akin to a permaculture facebook deleting posts about the important role of the internet in keeping people in touch and distributing information during the Covid19 pandemic. The posts were seen as off-topic, which is ironic when the internet is the main means by which the organisation managing the facebook communicates.
Denying the present reality
Not approving posts about the virus comes across as a denial of the reality facing Tasmania at this time. It is akin to climate change denial in deliberately denying and ignoring the main impediment to moving to Tasmania at this time.
What image of Tasmanian life does the facebook create? A flick through the posts discloses bucolic images of the countryside. Ironically considering the government’s closure of the state’s borders and recommendations about only essential travel within Tasmania, these are scenes of places that few can now see for themselves.
In terms of relevant content, the facebook stands in contrast to the Moving to Tasmania-Tips and Chats facebook when it comes to quality and quantity of useful information and updates on how the virus is affecting migrating to the state. Moving to Tasmania has no bans on discussing the virus.
Adaptable posting policy makes social media adaptable and relevant
What’s the lesson here? For me, it’s about remaining relevant and allowing social media groups to adapt to the main influences affecting their role. This is needed not only because it is timely but because it provides a space for participants to discuss what is important to them and how it could affect their plans.
Banning posts about what may be one of the greatest challenges the state has faced will do little to inform people about their prospects of moving here, something no one will be doing for some time.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/124885434885035?tsid=0.590599044353941&source=result
Moving to Tasmania-tips and Chats: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=533912440302025&ref=content_filter
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