- “Mark Changed The Rules”: How Facebook Went Easy On Alex Jones And Other Right-Wing Figures. “Facebook’s rules to combat misinformation and hate speech are subject to the whims and political considerations of its CEO and his policy team leader.”
- In Australia, Facebook Blocks News (and Everything Remotely Newsworthy), but Facebook’s brazen attempt to crush regulations in Australia may backfire.
- Social media shreds Sen. Ted Cruz over controversial Cancún flight while Texans ‘left to freeze’.
- Turning digital clout into disaster relieft: AOC raises over $3M for Texas relief, heads to Houston after blasting Cruz for Mexico trip, While Cruz was traveling from Cancun, O’Rourke and AOC helped Texans in crisis, and AOC, Beto O’Rourke Raise $5 Million for Texas, Dems Staff Houston Food Bank.
- Texas mayor says he had already resigned after writing ‘only the strong will survive’ amid cold, power outages. In a “typo-ridden” Facebook post, natch.
- Facebook Moves to Muffle Politics on Its Platform. “Social-media company says it’s lowering the visibility of political content to promote healthier communities and suit users who don’t want to see it”. Hurting legitimate political organizations in the process.
- Facebook Continues Shift Away From Political As Consultants Plot Alternatives. C.f. What Campaigns Should Do While Facebook and Google Pause Political Ads, via Eric Wilson.
- Campaigns return to old trick after Facebook cuts off fundraising. Email lists are being bought, rented and swapped. The likely result? Burnout. Could micro-influencer outreach fill the gap? We’ll see, though I doubt it can scale down-ballot.
- Parler is back online, more than a month after tangle with Amazon knocked it offline. C.f. The 65-Year-Old Helping to Un-Deplatform Parler.
- Parler Is Back and So Are Users Who Cheered on the Capitol Insurrection. C.f. Let’s Talk About Parler.
- How a leading anti-Trump group ignored a crisis in its ranks, and Lincoln Project co-founder Reed Galen ran little known dark money group [which ran digital ads] as super PAC’s dealings face scrutiny. Grifters all around? Note: “The best marks are people who think they’re in on the con”.
- The right’s grift machine is only growing stronger.
- Lin Wood Uses Telegram App to Enlist ‘Patriots’ to Investigate Threats of His Disbarment.
- Black, female and high-profile, Kamala Harris is a top target in online fever swamps.
- We’re In An “UnCivil War” On Social Media.
- Brad Parscale is back again in Trump’s orbit. The former 2020 campaign manager hated by the ex-president is building his post-White House digital operation.
- Republicans criticized a Biden nominee for her tweets. Democrats see a ‘whole new level of hypocrisy.’. But, Neera Tanden’s tweets might doom her nomination after all.
- Facebook reports no coordinated disinformation tied to Capitol riot. Do they watch Fox News?
- On social media, vaccine misinformation mixes with extreme faith, often amplified by algorithms. C.f. Facebook and YouTube ban ‘Planet Lockdown’ film filled with coronavirus falsehoods, after it was shared by millions and Among Latino immigrants, false vaccine claims are spreading as fast as the virus. Videos in Spanish are less likely to be flagged.
- DNC announces key staff hires. Are Dems finally building more infrastructure for the long haul?
- Mike Bloomberg’s data firm Hawkfish is closing shop. “The organization was billed as the future of Democratic politics. But it wasn’t picked up by the Biden campaign and never took off after that.” From last year: The Battle for the Soul of Joe Biden’s Digital Campaign.
- Breaking down President Biden’s data-driven social media strategy, via Shaun Dakin.
- What Worked in 2020 Political Campaign SMS Fundraising, via Eric Wilson.
- Study: How Online Propagandists Targeted The 2020 Election.
- Politics, race, and religion: Pandemic misinformation courses through the Southeast Asian internet.
- LAPD Investigating Valentine-Like Post of George Floyd: “You Take My Breath Away”.
- Eroding America from within: Marketing data threatens military cohesion. “The bond between soldiers is at the center of the will to fight, and it is this bond that is currently under assault.”
- Democrats have video evidence. But video has never been easier to ignore.
The “ultimate attack on the power of the real”. - China steps up online controls with new rule for bloggers.
- China appears to have blocked Clubhouse, the buzzy social-media app, after people in the country flocked to it to discuss politics.
- They were accused of plotting to overthrow the Modi government. The evidence was planted, a new report says. Using malware.
- Civil rights groups ask Biden administration to oppose facial recognition.
- The U.S. Has Released the Most Comprehensive Catalog of North Korean Cybercrimes Ever Made Public.
- After Dark, Citizens and Myanmar’s Junta Face Off Across Shadowy Front Lines.
- Defector.com’s journalistic experiment began with a staff walkout. It might actually be working.
- Judge tosses Carter Page defamation suit against Verizon company. Over articles on HuffPo and Yahoo News.
- What Is Rumble? The Next Social Video Giant? Via Eric Wilson.
- The Evolution of Advocacy Tactics and Strategies.
- 3 Key Elements of a Digital Campaign Plan.
- TikTok: Engage Young Voters & Deliver The Youth Vote on Social Media.
- User-Generated Content for Everyone – Storytelling for Advocacy.
- 16 Big Upcoming Social Media Trends And How Marketers Can Use Them. As always, your mileage may vary.
- QAnon Thinks Biden Helped China Create the Texas Energy Crisis. Crazy talk! Everyone knows it was Mexico getting back at us for the Wall.
- And finally, Why Does a U.S. Senator Have Laser Eyes on Twitter Now?
Too much is never enough? Check out previous Quick Hits editions.
– cpd