Social media pro-social: Choose respectful exchange!

Participating in the lives of people far away, exchanging ideas, building a community and making direct contact with your target group or getting to know other opinions in discussions: for many people, social media have become an integral part of their everyday communication structures, both in their private lives and in professional contexts.

However, a shadow is currently falling over this positive exchange, which is based on an atmosphere of mutual respect: Platform X is opening the door to hate speech and misinformation under the guise of freedom of expression; Facebook and Instagram are also cancelling independent fact-checking. In both - or rather, all three - cases, the effects are clearly noticeable. Anyone who doesn't want to be bombarded by hate speech and conspiracy narratives on a daily basis is leaving these increasingly toxic platforms.

It works! Especially if many people decide to take this step together: Bluesky, for example, is an exciting and serious alternative to X. In December 2024, the decentralised open source counterpart to X had already cracked the 25 million mark. You can now find the EU research group of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, the VdK Germany social organisation, the Munich Security Conference, NABU and the Robert Koch Institute, the EU Commission, numerous universities, museums, many, many individuals ... And it's still going uphill.

Would you like to be able to discuss things objectively with the community again, network with colleagues or exchange ideas with friends without constantly being on the receiving end of trolls or being flooded with unwanted messages? We will be happy to provide you with advice and technical support for your social media migration and help you set up your own space, for example on Bluesky, with a well-designed address of your own.

And, of course, we are also happy to support you in your public image on social media - our top five recommendations for the still relatively new year 2025:

Our social media tips for 2025

Taking a clear position

In an increasingly polarised online world, users value authenticity and transparency. Don't be afraid to clearly state your (political) stance - this will create trust and strengthen your brand identity at the same time. Of course, you should always communicate respectfully and recognise different perspectives.

Communicate complex topics in an understandable way

Present complex content in an easily understandable form - for example, by using infographics and short videos or by engaging your target group through storytelling. This allows you to prepare information in an accessible way and appeal to a broad audience.

Use of artificial intelligence (AI) for personalised content

The use of AI allows you to tailor content to the individual needs and interests of users - for example, AI tools can help you present complex data in an understandable way. This makes content relevant to your target group and increases their engagement.

Promoting inclusive and accessible communication

Those who do not make their digital communication accessible and inclusive reduce their reach and may also be acting against legal requirements. Remove barriers by using plain or LINK easy language or subtitling for videos and ensure that your websites are accessible overall.

Using "prosocial media" to promote civil dialogue

Fortunately, there is a counter-trend to more and more hate and fake news on social media: towards a conscious promotion of civil discourse and mutual understanding. Platforms and functions that support constructive discussions and counteract disinformation are therefore becoming increasingly important. Choose which platforms you want to be present on - and help build a positive and productive online community by strengthening respectful dialogue.