Read on Twitter
Telegram & Belarus protest thread
I research Telegram, an instant messenger, as a tool for protest organising for several years. It is a crucial tool for this protest because:
1. It encourages anonymity, which helps to protect activists
1/
I research Telegram, an instant messenger, as a tool for protest organising for several years. It is a crucial tool for this protest because:
1. It encourages anonymity, which helps to protect activists
1/
2. It can work with unstable internet, just like one experienced during the shutdown last week (45% of users of key protest groups were online during the last evening of the lockdown)
3. It supports huge groups, and each member can receive a message from leaders instantly
2/
3. It supports huge groups, and each member can receive a message from leaders instantly
2/
How Telegram was used:
-Activists created dozens of Telegram groups to cover each region of Belarus 2 months before the election
-Their total audience was of at least 140 000 three days after the election (pic above)
-Activists created dozens of Telegram groups to cover each region of Belarus 2 months before the election
-Their total audience was of at least 140 000 three days after the election (pic above)
-During the post-election night and following days, these groups were used to coordinate everyday tasks of protests e.g:
*where to meet
*volunteers' support
*sharing info on police movement
-Also used for mobilisation through text, images and video content
*where to meet
*volunteers' support
*sharing info on police movement
-Also used for mobilisation through text, images and video content
-All groups were moderated by anonymous administrators - everyday leaders of the movement
-Groups were autonomous – each locality decided what to do next on their own
-Large Telegram channels are umbrellas for the movement, broadcasting key messages and coordinating groups
-Groups were autonomous – each locality decided what to do next on their own
-Large Telegram channels are umbrellas for the movement, broadcasting key messages and coordinating groups
-The largest channel – Nexta Live – has more than 2 mln followers now. It’s the largest channel in the world
-Nexta’s admin and his team (4 ppl in total) are one of the most influential political figures in Belarus now
-Nexta’s admin and his team (4 ppl in total) are one of the most influential political figures in Belarus now
Telegram was not the only tool used. YouTube, VK, Facebook were important for different purposes. During the lockdown, ppl used phone calls and SMS too
There're other leaders, like the emerging coordination committee. But they do not do much of everyday organising of the protest
There're other leaders, like the emerging coordination committee. But they do not do much of everyday organising of the protest
More on Telegram:
Wired https://wired.co.uk/article/belarus-protests-telegram by @swilliamsjourno
Global Voices https://globalvoices.org/2020/08/18/how-one-telegram-channel-became-central-to-belarus-protests/ by @MaximEdwards
Our recent study of Telegram in English-speaking countries - good for the platform context
https://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/junk-news-telegram/
Wired https://wired.co.uk/article/belarus-protests-telegram by @swilliamsjourno
Global Voices https://globalvoices.org/2020/08/18/how-one-telegram-channel-became-central-to-belarus-protests/ by @MaximEdwards
Our recent study of Telegram in English-speaking countries - good for the platform context
https://comprop.oii.ox.ac.uk/research/junk-news-telegram/
Negative implications of Telegram use:
-It facilitates the spread of misinfo and manipulation. The Nexta channel did this unfortunately
-Fake channels hard to distinguish from original
-Telegram is not an organisation. It can't build a stage or negotiate with authorities
-It facilitates the spread of misinfo and manipulation. The Nexta channel did this unfortunately
-Fake channels hard to distinguish from original
-Telegram is not an organisation. It can't build a stage or negotiate with authorities
Nexta in English (automatic translation) @nexta_eng
