Staying relevant is a battle for media outlets, particularly when their misinformation gets called out. That’s where DJ Akademiks, a hip hop commentator, enters the chat. We dissect how Akademiks’ partnership with Rumble, a right-leaning alternative video streaming service, helps to make these outlets more acceptable and accessible to mainstream audiences. MJ’s Campaign Strategies Director Myaisha Hayes joins us for this conversation!
Staying relevant is a battle for media outlets, particularly when their misinformation gets called out. That’s where DJ Akademiks, a hip hop commentator, enters the chat. We dissect how Akademiks’ partnership with Rumble, a right-leaning alternative video streaming service, helps to make these outlets more acceptable and accessible to mainstream audiences. MJ’s Campaign Strategies Director Myaisha Hayes joins us for this conversation!
Host: Eteng Ettah
Producer: Genevieve Montinar
Original Music Compositions by: Brandon Bagaason
Clip 1: Credit- Posted by @blackguytv | YouTube creator via TikTok
Clip 2: Credit- Posted by King Akademiks on YouTube “DJ Akademiks Responds to Peter Rosenberg & other people hating on his move to Rumble!”
Clip 3: Credit- Posted by NBC News on YouTube “President Trump Permanently Banned From Twitter | NBC Nightly News
Clip 4: Credit- Posted by CNN on YouTube “Donald Trump’s Twitter account reinstated”
View the transcript here: https://actually-hold-up.simplecast.com/episodes/hold-up-dj-akademiks/transcript
You can check out Copaganda Clapback here:
Make sure to follow MediaJustice on Twitter (X) @mediajustice and on Instagram @MediaJustice
Clip 1 0:00
DJ Akademiks signed a deal with Rumble. If you don't know what Rumble is, Rumble is basically Right Wing YouTube.
Clip2: Yo, this Rumble moves is nothing more than a platform move. Bro whatever they got going on with politics, if y'all want political shit, there's political people on here for that. Don't come to me for, that I'm gonna do the same shit.
Eteng Ettah: Hip Hop commentator DJ academics typically isn't the first person that comes to mind when you think about political thought leaders. He might be the go to for the latest rap beef but usually not the expert we turn to when it comes to political analysis.
But what happens when influencers who are known for their generally non political content start aligning themselves politicians and accompanies that not only have overtly harmful political stances, but are the lead spreaders of misinformation?
Hi, I'm Eteng Ettah with MediaJustice, and this is "Actually... Hold up", where we break down what you don't know about the stories you think you know, and why. misinformation is rampant, and popular stories often come to us from the media in a manipulated way. Don't worry, though, that's where we come in.
In this episode we'll discuss how media platforms that rebuke the movement to address misinformation and hate online are learning to adapt to their new environment by creating their own spaces to continue spreading narratives that have been proven untrue, while also diversifying their talent base by bringing in by commenting.
Eteng Ettah 1:47
When DJ Akademiks signed a deal with a right-wing video streaming platform called Rumble, many people had a lot to say. Akademiks refuted the criticism by doubling down on his decision to stream on rumble and said commentators were just jealous of his success.
But is that what really got people talking? We'll be talking about how right wing media uses BIPOC folks to spread misinformation to other BIPOC communities. We'll look at how the rise of alternative media platforms are adapting to anti-misinformation efforts by well known platforms like YouTube and Twitter by creating their own platforms and using BIPOC individuals as pawns as part of their larger mission. to be the dominant voice in media.
You think you're following your faves to the newest social media platform to keep up with their commentary, but actually, you could be introduced to alternative platforms where misinformation is rampant and goes even more unchecked.
Eteng Ettah: 3:02
If you've been a loyal listener of our podcast series, you know the way misinformation is presented in the media is strategic and intentional. We've seen how social media influencers have profited from spreading inaccurate information like in the depth fee heard case, and now the very people who've been harmed by deceiving information have tried to fight against it, like the writers and the WGA strike.
The uniting factor joining all these examples together is that they are made possible because of the manipulated media landscape. So while we know this landscape is made up of social media, news, media, etc. The handful of people who spread misinformation became experts and how the media cycle works and continue to scheme out ways to spread their message.
With this understanding which Harvard's Shorenstein center on media politics and public policies, technology and social change program, led by Dr. Joan Donovan has dubbed the media manipulation cycle, we can see how stories are twisted, altered and just misleading in a way that causes harm to the most vulnerable groups. In our society.
There have been efforts although very bare minimum from social media platforms like YouTube, we've tried to give warnings to their audiences where there might be topics and misinformation like they did during the peak of the COVID pandemic, or when Twitter would flagged tweets that were deemed to have inaccurate information about politics, like in the 2020 US presidential election to call out users who spread misinformation, while the right tries to frame the conversation around how they are the targets of censorship, particularly when it comes to social media.
This is misleading and erases the fact that bipoc users are still way more likely to get suspended, banned and censored compared To right wing commentators and white supremacists. Yes, there is a prominent instance of former US President Donald Trump getting a permanent suspension from Twitter in January 2021, after essentially tweeting his support to literal insurrectionists storming the US Capitol tonight
Clip 3: 5:17
a deafening silence from the President's Twitter account. Twitter run by CEO Jack Dorsey saying after close review of the President's recent tweets, it banned him due to the risk of further incitement of violence.
Eteng Ettah: 5:31
But that suspension was rescinded 22 months later, when Elon Musk became the leader of the social media platform.
Clip 4: 5:38
Donald Trump's Twitter account is back Elon Musk reinstated the former president just minutes ago. This is President Trump's Twitter page here until tonight it had said account suspended.
Eteng Ettah: 5:50
So it's important to know while there have been some bans for accounts on the right, these have been few and far between and only take place after public pressure is put on these social media platforms. We've been seeing the rise of alternative platforms that many right wing individuals and groups have been turning to where their misinformation is less likely to be censored, essentially creating a safe space for them to stay.
Rumble is one of those platforms they launched in 2013. And their CEO has stated that Rumble is a movement that does not stifle, censor, or punish creativity and believe everyone benefits from access to a neutral network. With diverse ideas and opinions. We are on a mission to restore the Internet to its roots by making it free and open.
Once again. This streaming site which basically is an alternative YouTube site is where many have found a home to spread their messages of misinformation Not to mention that a Pew Research study found that 22% of the top 200 accounts on rumble were either banned or demonetized from other platforms, and my new that usually only happens if you're doing something wrong.
So when Rumbal secured a deal with hip hop and pop culture commentator, DJ Akademiks in April 2023, it was pretty significant. Akademiks has been an infamous figure in the world of hip hop for many years, including prominently known by those in black communities.
This deal wasn't just a passive run of the mill company signs well known talent situation was another example one of many of how right wing media outlets try to use BIPOC individuals as a face to make their messaging sound more palatable.
We often think about right wing content being on the fringe made up of angry white men. When you think of Alex Jones, or Jordan Peterson, they're white men that maybe the most conservative people listened to, but if we're talking about people of color, not as many folks may come to mind.
The connection between far right propaganda and misinformation is not an anti conservative political talking point, but one that highlights a pattern of white supremacy, racism, anti LGBTQ sentiments, and the list goes on. And having straight, rich white people be the prominent commentators on right leaning platforms doesn't exactly help the case that their opinions are ones shared by people of all backgrounds.
And this is where these platforms have to get creative to appear that they don't have a diversity problem. They have been targeting bipoc figures to join their platforms in an attempt to showcase their willingness to be inclusive. But the gag is it's all very performative, making it even more problematic. But this hasn't stopped people of color from working on these platforms.
The interesting thing about the media manipulation cycle is the final stage how people try to adapt to their new environment. For example, if people think you have a problem with telling the truth, then you make your space look like it's telling the truth. And if it looks like you're out of touch with people of color, well, you're gonna have to add some people of color to your lineup. And this is what makes the dill rumble sign with DJ Akademiks so notable.
It shows how platforms like theirs are trying to revamp their image to ease any preconceived thoughts about who they are and what they do. For instance, how could a platform like this be so bad if they're signing someone who was prominent within black circles?
Now DJ Akademiks has a long track record of being problematic and is no stranger to controversy, because commentary continues to include misogynistic and massage noir takes he has said many things that are anti black He aligns himself with people like Donald Trump even calling him uncle Trump.
But it is still a big deal that academics made this move. When folks who've been in the mainstream start to join what may appear to be fringe platforms, it gives those platforms more legitimacy, for better for worse, and the fact that academics rejects the move being a statement of politics leaves out the fact that this is a political move, and it shows him co signing these conservative sentiments. There's a strong argument to be made that some bipoc creators like DJ Akademiks are attracted to these right wing media outlets because they feel joining them will give them a leg up in their career.
It'll widen their audience introduce their commentary to new people, and overall give them a more profitable platform. And while that may be their aim, it can't be ignored that far right platforms used by POC creators and commentators as pawns, and they do so willingly and strategically.
Eteng Ettah: 11:16
Alright, I'm super excited to welcome our guest today, Mayaisha Hayes, our Campaign Strategies Director here at MediaJustice, where she leads our campaign work prior to becoming the campaign strategies director.
Myaisha spent two years as our organization's national organizer on criminal justice and technology, where she oversaw the launch of the hashtag no digital prisons and hashtag protect black descent campaigns. And before MediaJustice Myaisha has worked on several state and local campaigns, including Close Rikers electoral campaigns and labor organizing. Thank you for joining me, Myaisha!
Myaisha Hayes: 12:00
thank you for having me!
Etteng Ettah: 12:01
Let's get into it. There's a lot to be unpacked here with DJ Akademiks coming to the Rumble platform. So we'll start with zeroing in on on people like DJ academics as well as blogs like the Shade Room, I consider them in this like very misogynistic, misinfo ecosystem.
And so they're problematic for several reasons from unverified information to ramp in massage Noir. It's clear these folks don't like Black people, Black queer people, Black trans people. And yet, people are still turning to these places for entertainment and information on a variety of topics.
And so I guess I want to start out by hearing from you, why do you think that's the case? And how do we contend with this thing where we know that there is harmful information being spread by DJ Akademiks, folks like him? And yet folks that we know, are still utilizing this as a source for information?
Myaisha Hayes: 13:06
That's a great question. I believe that one part of the issue is that we need to kind of shore up our media literacy skills in the digital age, we are using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube as sites of information.
And not everybody is a journalist on those sites, not all of the information is verified on those sites, right. And so we need to kind of like teach our people how to distinguish between a blog and someone's opinion in actual fact, right? T
hat's like one part of it. I think the reason why people are still following, you know, the Shade Room and these sorts of blogs and sites is because we're kind of in a day and age where people are very obsessed with celebrities and their personal lives. And these sites make a whole lot of money based off of the traffic that they're able to create, using, you know, personal information about celebrities, or just frankly, stalking their every move and everything about their lives, right.
And people are really obsessed with their celebrity. Everybody's got, you know, a hive or a navy or whatever, right. And so we're kind of living in a day and age where people have this parasocial relationship with people that they do not know have no connection to. And I think these sites make people feel like Oh, I'm in the know or I'm in the mix, or I'm caught up on what my fave is doing.
It's very weird. behavior. You don't know these people. It's just gossip it's just blogs, but you know, you go on the sites and the comments are crazy, you know, like people debating and going back and forth as if like so and so is their cause. then it makes really no sense. And I think over time, people have kind of conflated the sites with like actual platforms or sites or blogs of information.
And they're just not, we need to be able to distinguish what's our entertainment, and also have some critique over, like the kinds of things that we are consuming as entertainment. But then like, where are we actually looking for information about the news information about our community information about, you know, certain issues,
Eteng Ettah: 15:31
I think that's super spot on. And it's interesting, because what you're saying reminds me of what Russia in a previous episode was talking about with this relationship to celebrity. And so it's only gotten more like 24/7. And so these blogs, and people like DJ Akademiks are able to capitalize off of a behavior that folks have.
And of course, you know, we also in that episode talked about some of our favorite celebrities, and how, like, we're not above being in some of these fandoms or we're kind of living in that contradiction. And so bringing it a bit more to DJ Akademiks. I'm curious if there was a moment for you or an example of something he might have said, where you were like, Okay, this is it's kind of a wrap for this dude, in terms of like, you know, what place he has in the content that you consume?
Myaisha Hayes 16:24
I think the first time I remember learning about DJ academics was when he was interviewing Migos and they almost like, upside down, because he was being silly and off right, you know, and from there, I always saw DJ academics always surrounded by mess online, and the mess was often very problematic, very misogynistic, anti-Black, homophobic, all of it right.
And so over the years, I've just sort of like trained my eye and my social media to the best that I can to just ignore whenever he comes up. But there are instances that are extremely hard, right? Like recently, at the end of last year, Twitter was just unbearable in the midst of Megan the stallion, and that case against Tori lanes and one of the bloggers that I remember constantly posting just very hateful kind of leading the hate train against Megan Thee Stallion was DJ Akademiks and you just really cannot escape it online.
But yeah, ever since me goes all the way up until now, I've just been like to protect my peace online and to actually enjoy social media. I just do my best to like avoid him that Kevin Samuels you know, the whole bandit. You know, I just try to stay clear of all of it because it's so disturbing. And again, seeing people engage in that content and hearing people echo or confirm or resonate with these thoughts and ideas is just super troubling. And I just want more positivity in my space, whether online or in person, you know?
Eteng Ettah: 18:17
Yeah, I mean, there's a whole crew of folks that spew like the similar massage noir, you know, even after in particular with Tori lanes and Megan, the stallion even after everything has unfolded, seeing folks doubling down in ways and they know that misogyny and outrage leads to engagement and leads to them being able to make money off of these platforms. In addition, obviously appealing to folks who agree with this.
Myaisha Hayes: 18:51
Yeah, and what's really insane about DJ academics and like similar bloggers, is people routinely come out and say, let's use the you know, Megan, Thee sSallion- Tori Lanez case like, that information is wrong.
Like, that's not what was said in court. That's not what that means. You do not have a law degree. You are literally putting out incorrect information, like people are tracking it and yet people still kind of gravitate towards him. There's definitely a way in which like, people are just choosing to be wrong, loud and wrong, you know, and that's like the other kind of thing about that space online. It's another reason why I take a step back and try to not engage because people are actually choosing to consume incorrect inflammatory information.
Eteng Ettah: 19:45
It's a really important distinction between like, when misinformation is like oopsie like should have like looked at this but like, didn't have the malicious intent. And then the very concerted misinformation campaigns where like, DJ Akademiks and all these folks know that they don't have a law degree.
And even if they did they, they've got their set agenda. And then folks knowingly knowing like, Okay, this is not right. But like what they're looking for is not the truth or facts or an understanding of how sexism and anti blackness showed up in particular, with the situation. And then obviously, all the backlash that happened during the trial as that was unfolding.
Myaisha Hayes: 20:31
That's right. This is intentional. You know, disinformation, for sure. Yeah.
Eteng Ettah: 20:36
So it makes me think about just moving us a bit to DJ Akademiks now joining this right wing platform called rumble and so in true DJ Akademiks fashion is like anyone who has anything to say about this move. If you don't like it, you're a hater, you're mad because I have more money than you that I'm more successful.
So obviously, like any legitimate critiques of this move are being received as you're just being a hater. So might, not that I think he would want to sit at the table and hear any of this. But, um, so I'm curious, what's, what's the impact of someone like him joining a platform like rumble? And like, what might the ripple effects of this look like?
Because he's obviously dominated in quotation marks, like he's got the, you know, the Shade Room tight spots, but now he's expanding in another direction. So yeah,
Myaisha Hayes: 21:37
it's kind of scary, honestly, like, even as someone who doesn't care about DJ Akademiks don't follow his work knows he's a troll online. What I think is scary about it is that because of his kind of digital footprint and his existence in these spaces, now people even know what Rumble is. Now you're sort of like endorsing and normalizing a platform to people who may not even have been interested or even known about rumble.
Now they do. So that's one thing that is kind of concerning about that, is that, through that partnership, he's pretty much endorsing, and kind of normalizing this, like right wing space online. The second part of that now is I'm curious, like, what other kind of content is that demographic of people going to be interacting with now, it feels like he's kind of a gateway drug into other more misogynistic, more far right? Kind of content.
And what we really need is like an intervention, and to have people come back, right, like, it's scary that you started off on the Shade Room, which is bad enough, and now you are wrong. Like, that's extreme, right. And he has a really loyal base and following online. And so I can only imagine they're like, oh, what else can I see on Rumble?
Who else can I follow here or interact with? And so that's just really concerning, especially since I know DJ Akademiks has, I think a lot of his followers are folks that also are like, into hip hop, follow hip hop artists, and now the whole genre is gonna feel kind of like that impact, right. So it's so weird that like, the criticism sort of washes off him like it should be more fish. I don't know, there should just be more critique, and like, raising an eyebrow at this move, right? It's totally weird.
Eteng Ettah: 23:52
Do you think this might be the the thing where it's like, okay, wait a minute. We know you've said a lot of wild things, but like this, maybe not. Maybe this is where the team is like, okay, like, because rumble I mean, you can think if you imagine the type of person that's on there, like they could have been like, Where were y'all on June? Right, right. It's like slay. Okay, dude, maybe we've taken it a little too far now that you like, are interested in colluding with folks like that now?
Myaisha Hayes: 24:22
Yes, yes, that's exactly yeah. I mean, like, if any, I mean, I know this happens, but like, it's kind of like seeing your face on like Fox News. Like, what are you doing there? You know what I mean? Like, he's not a fave, to be clear, as we've been talking about, but we have, like, an immediate assumption about Fox News. Right? And we know what that space is. And I think because rumble might be so new to folks. They may think, Oh, well, maybe it's like, not as bad if DJ academics is there. I don't know what these people are. But it's not a good look, you know? It's not a good look.
Eteng Ettah: 25:00
100%. And I appreciated your comment about a little earlier about like him being the gateway. And so it's really wild to consider that he is I like palatable version of the misogyny and anti blackness and transphobia. And like, there are folks that are even more like on the fringes and are saying even more out of pocket things than That's right. And so it's like, if people are watching to see what this partnerships looks like, and like how that might set off, like a ripple effect,
Myaisha Hayes: 25:39
because like, you know, they're we're in like a very polarizing political climate. Just the other day someone was, I can't remember what room I was in, or what conversation this was with. Someone was talking about how, you know, when you look at who turned out in the last election, you're seeing more people of color vote from far right, you know, what I mean?
Join, you know, it's x for Trump, x for this, right. And so, I think online, you're seeing sort of people who are just very, like low hanging fruit in that way. They can't wrap their minds around the conversations that we are having around queer rights or anti blackness or organizing around certain issues. And they're finding kind of like a political home with the DJ academics. I see the two as the because he's mentioned January 6, and I'm like, yeah, like, I bet. I bet some DJ academic listeners are like, not that mad about January 6, or, or are sympathetic or, you know, like, find themselves in the political spectrum that is over there. So yeah,
Eteng Ettah: 27:00
there's so much nuance here, because it's like, obviously, and you know, we're black. And there, we know the history of the US government in the ways that like our folks, understandably, being skeptical of policies and laws that this country has put forward has kept each other safe and the ways that we turn to one another to find out what's going on in our communities.
And so things I love about social media is the fact that like, folks can grab a mic and be able to share, like, Hey, here's what's going on in my community. We're breaking down right now, like misinformation, and it's harms. But then obviously, you know, on the other side, because we have a more participatory media system, then we also have to, like contend with the DJ Akademiks. And these platforms of the world, which, yeah, things things go left
Myaisha Hayes: 27:55
and not left in a good way, and not in a good way that we like.
Eteng Ettah: 27:59
Right, right. Exactly. I'm like, yeah, there's so many different directions that were Yeah. But yeah, I want to bring us to these platforms. I guess I have a two parter for you. So is the responsibility for bipoc folks who, you know, maybe it's creators who want to have a partnership with a platform like, what is the responsibility of the things that folks need to be asking themselves before joining a platform as a user or like serving as a spokesperson, if even
Myaisha Hayes 28:35
Hmm, I think my biggest advice, as you know, an internet user, is to really like research your sources. Back in the day when we when people like me found out about DJ Akademiks, because he was about to get beat up by Migos. I think I did look him up a little bit. And like, maybe on the surface, the content wasn't super, super bad.
But if you keep scrolling through and if you keep reading, and you look at the cart, like you can kind of see that this is not unbiased territory, that this person has pretty clear political, social stances on a number of issues. And at that point, you should really decide is that the kind of content that's going to be feeding you you know what I mean?
I like to use social media for entertainment. I love to laugh. I also, I also love following, you know, certain content creators that are explicitly black feminist and can talk about a range of issues from maybe a local electoral campaign to, you know, talking about, I don't know, Atlanta and breaking things down and they're right, like, be really mindful of the kind of content that you consume and digest because on these platforms, right there As this information is being hosted on platforms that is trying to keep you engaged all the time, so the more that you interact with the DJ Akademiks, the more you're going to find more DJ Akademiks, right?
I'm a big fan of people who use the mute and the block and all of the tools that you have on Twitter, because unfortunately, I do think Twitter has become a bit of a hostile space lately, so protect your piece, right? Unfortunately, our platforms are run by, you know, silica content, you know, billionaire bros who want to prioritize engagement above else, right. And content that gets a rise out of you tends to tends to go viral, right. So just understand to that, like, yes, there's like a step around, kind of verifying the sources that you're listening to or, or consuming. And then also just having a critical lens about like the platform and like the ecosystem that this information is living on, you got to have kind of both in mind, I appreciate
Eteng Ettah: 31:07
you bringing up the billionaire tech bros. And it's an important reminder that just who is running these platforms, like it is not a coincidence that if you are a person of color on Twitter, you're more likely to experience hate speech, harassment, censorship, etc. And we know when groups like MediaJustice, we've done a lot around platform accountability, the ways that these platforms skirt all accountability, and are like, we are just a medium for which messages are put on, we don't have any responsibility.
And so it feels really important for folks to know a bit more about the system that we are, are navigating through as we're determining and taking those steps that you're naming like, how can I make this timeline serve me and my piece in the way that I needed to and kind of let the rest of it go? I mean, in addition to what you're sharing in terms of like, what listeners should do, is there criteria or things that comes to mind if we, if someone wants to determine whether a platform is for BIPOC users? Or if they are being performative?
Since that's another thing we know, especially post 2020. A lot of folks are like, Yeah, let's put a black face there and there and say, we care about hate speech. But how can you tell between who's being performative? And who might actually be bout it?
Myaisha Hayes: 32:38
That's a good question. I mean, off the RIP, since we're talking about, like, the Shade Room, you should know at this point that these are gossip blog sites, and they're just looking for mass, right? And if you like, messy that, that's fine. You know what I mean, just know that these are not pages that love all black people.
And they clearly don't feel any sense of accountability for the, the kind of like, just hate and disinformation that their sites spread. And so, again, just discernment, and knowing that, like, what is the purpose of this particular blog or site is one way and then again, like, I really do take a minute to really look through people's like, actual body of work to, and you'll see over and over again, like, if they are truly like a black feminist, or they are progressive, you'll see certain issues come up on their page, like you'll see them talk about things in a certain way.
I think sometimes, if you just come in and you just like, are introducing this person because of a viral clip, I think that happens a lot, right? Like you get introduced to people because they're in a viral clip, and you love what they said and that 22nd bite and you retweeting and then, and then you find out that there like a Kevin Samuels, like, you know what I mean?
Like, it's, I feel like our attention span is very short these days, because of all of the apps and social media that we're using. And so take your time with just like actually getting to know the kinds of people that you're following the kind of background that they have. There's a lot of people that pop up as like, relationship coaches, and it's like, where are you been? Like, who are you?
What, what background do you have in coaching? You know what I mean? People are scamming, you are straight up, scam me. I mean, so like, just do your research a little bit more, you know, and I get that like, there's just so much happening online and like it takes a little bit of effort or it's you can get easily distracted, but you don't want to be out here retweeting something that is not aligned with your principles or your values, you know.
So, yeah, a lot of people do pretend that they're about it. But if you know what that actually looks like, you should be able to kind of tell the difference. And in my opinion,
Eteng Ettah: 35:20
I love the point about, it's the viral moment that introduces us to folks and going back to love how much for talking about migos beating up academics. But I think about the time where I saw that clip, and I was like, Oh, my God, who is this person? Like, are they good? Like? Like, he goes, doing a little too much like, he's just this poor, red carpet person.
But yeah, so if you were introduced to DJ academics like that, I could see some folks being like, dang, I was surprised for this dude. Come to find they had a reason. Right, right. Right. So right, see me go. Well, I've really, really enjoyed this conversation. Before I let you go, another two parter for you just any final thoughts? Like if there's one or two things our listeners should take away from what you've shared? What might that be, and then anything you'd like to plug?
Myaisha Hayes: 36:28
I think I just want to share that like, kind of, like you said, I think the internet and social media is super great. Like there's so many content creators, just incredibly intelligent people that have created really fun, creative spaces to engage in a range of information. Like, even if politics and social issues aren't your thing.
There's so much like popular commentary that people are doing, there are spaces for you online. And so I just want to like kind of big that up and emphasize that point that like you can find your people in the, you know, digital space, right. And I also love like what you all are doing, grabbing a mic and creating our own right, like, that's super exciting. So I really love that.
And I, I'm excited to see more of that even in the midst of all of the trolls like DJ Akademiks or Elon Musk, you know, taking over Twitter, like, we're still out here, we're still creating incredible content and don't fall down the rabbit hole. And then in terms of anything that I would like to plug, I mean, maybe a good thing to plug would be our Copaganda trainings that we've been doing.
It's kind of related to this right around narratives. And we've been developing a curriculum for the past year on debunking propaganda and the curriculum is really useful for folks in terms of trying to map out all of the different actors that have a role in perpetuating these kind of police narratives and social media is a part of it right?
So that's public now it's out Yeah, so if you're interested in seeing that check out our website and if you're interested in a training hit up MediaJustice
Eteng Ettah: 38:15
Absolutely. Yes. Shout out to Copaganda Clapback. We can't talk about misinformation without mentioning police. So really exciting resource. And with that, thank you so much Myaisha, this was super fun!
Myaisha Hayes: 38:29
Thanks, y'all! This was a lot of fun!
Eteng Ettah: 38:44
There are constantly corporations, individuals and organizations that want the status quo to stay the same. So paying attention to the way these groups move and talk will be key to avoiding misinformation especially considering new platforms will be constantly created. I'm a tang and thanks for joining us on actually holds up where we break down what you don't know about the stories you think you know
Transcribed by https://otter.ai