2024 Dem Messaging Starter Pack
Being informed and sharing facts is the key to protecting our democracy. Here's everything you need to know to amplify wins and stakes in 2024!
Being informed and sharing facts is the key to protecting our democracy. MAGA and Putin know this which is why they are flooding our social media with disinformation. This targeted disinformation strategy was key to Trump and MAGA winning in 2016. Trumpâs campaign and Russia effectively targeted Black voters. In 2020, they targeted Black and Latino voters. In 2024, young people are being targeted with massive disinformation, and most donât realize it. Â And unfortunately, the media and social media companies have largely been ineffectual in countering it, and in some cases completely complicit, (see media treatment of Trump, CRT, and Bidenâs age). So hereâs the assignment: Go to the source. Get informed. Spread the word.
Twitter is still the best place to get news and diverse opinions and it has some technical advantages compared to other social media platforms. But if thatâs a bridge too far for you, Sign up with Threads. Itâs great for going to the source because everyone is on there - Dem leaders, pro-democracy accounts, independent journalists, historians, analysts, economists, and just generally smart, pro-democracy types. Whoâs not there? Elon Musk and Russian bots. Plus: Itâs owned by Meta, and 99% of you are already on either Facebook or IG so no excuses!
You donât need to follow a thousand accounts to be informed - just a handful. Here are our go-toâs:
Messenger Starter Pack
Your democracy needs you! The MAGA Republicans have a right wing media empire funded by their billionaires. Democrats do not. Â They have us. Use your social media and voice to make sure voters understand whatâs at stake and what Team Democracy has already accomplished.
Friends and Family Plan 2024. People are much more persuaded by friends and family than they are politicians. So whether it's on social media, at the dinner table or a BBQ - when you share what you value - you can make a difference. Also, it is critical to counter negative clickbait headlines when it comes up in conversation because nothing spreads faster than negativity and apathy, and apathy is the way the MAGA GOP wins.
Uplift Democrats' accomplishments. The MAGA GOP does not have to pass even one voter suppression bill if they can convince voters that nothing ever changes. Â Apathy is how fascism wins. So, when you talk to friends and family, or when posting on social media, focus on what we have accomplished, what we can do and why it matters to you. Skip the doom-and-gloom. It only helps the GOP.
Adapt to your audience. There is no one-size fits all approach to messaging. Figure out whatâs important to your friends and family and tailor it to them.
Start with shared values. Many Americans are tired of hearing about problems. Instead, start with shared values which is much more effective at shifting opinions. Ex: No matter our color, background, or party, most of us value our freedom.
Identify the villains. Ex: MAGA Republicans have pledged to cut Social Security and Medicare if they win in November. The GOP Supreme Court Justices have taken away womenâs right to abortion.
Go to the source. You donât need to be original. There are elected Dems, Dem allies and Dem orgs doing the research and finding the right words. Share their work, amplify their voices and contribute your own perspective on why this matters. (See our list of favorite sources above.]
Use your social media platforms - especially Facebook!
If you have Facebook, time to use it. Facebook is the MOST popular social media platform used by registered voters. There are 3x as many voters on Facebook than on Twitter and Instagram - Trumpâs 2016 campaign said he would not have won without Facebook and their algorithms.
Donât let disinformation win. Right-wing disinformation campaigns are very effective on Facebook because Republican voters like, comment, and repost. The FB algorithms reward repetition, and it is how disinformation catches like wildfire. (see why Nazis propaganda was so effective).
The assignment. Many pro-democracy voters only use Facebook for birthday wishes, vacation photos, and celebrating kidsâ accomplishments. We get it. Posting about politics can be uncomfortable. But you know what is more uncomfortable? Republicans forcing children who have been raped to give birth. Or having 65M senior Americans lose Social Security and Medicare. Or having all federal legislation âsunsetâ after 5 years - which means saying goodbye to the Affordable Care Act, climate change legislation and so much more if the MAGA GOP has its way. It is time to speak up even if it means we have to be uncomfortable because if we donât and we lose in November, itâs going to make the last 6 six years look like a cakewalk.
Dems suck at messaging. Let's once and for all put to rest the cliche that Dems are bad at messaging. They are not. We have a big tent so there is no one-size-fits-all messaging for the most part. And the media does not work for Democrats so if thatâs where you look for âDem messaging,â you will not find it. (See Dan Pfeifferâs article for more.)