Ask Jules: My friends watch harmful content online. What should I do?

What should you do in case your friends begin consuming digital media that you simply imagine is harmful to them, and the way do you method speaking to them about it?

C.: These specific media personalities use compelling ways to construct audiences and, in the end, manufacturers. Their harmful messaging might resonate with an viewers, fill a void, or present solutions or excuses for what somebody’s been scuffling with. In this example, all three appear to be current, and it’s blinding your friends from recognizing one other facet of their messaging — hyperbole.

Exaggerated messaging tends to be a part of these controversial personalities’ plans: provoke robust feelings so impressionable folks filter into their ecosystem and buy their choices. Yes, they’ll danger fueling polarization and warping the outlook of their audiences for private acquire.

It’s necessary to assist your friends change into extra aware of how their media consumption influences their mind-set. Simultaneously, you should be making an attempt to seed different methods for them to spend their time. Schedule plans that incorporate extra free-flowing dialogue, ideally in particular person or through video name. Getting your friends desirous about informal dialog about a variety of matters may help them change into higher accustomed to essential thought and response.

When the subject of males in as we speak’s society comes up, say that you simply perceive why they’re compelled by these personalities, however you are concerned their messaging is inflicting a web destructive affect on their lives.

Instead, counsel they take heed to personalities who don’t gasoline or dwell on the issues amongst boys and males as we speak, however concentrate on options that may inspire folks similar to your friends to see the sunshine. I suggest Scott Galloway, Andrew Yang and Richard Reeves. It might even be nice to watch their conversations about this matter collectively.

You also can share various approaches to the subject extra casually by a bunch chat or individually. I counsel constructing this relationship regularly by first sharing media inside your mutual pursuits in order that whenever you begin to share issues with extra of an underlying message about this matter, it doesn’t really feel abrupt or like a private assault.

Set a precedent that you simply’re sharing media with one another for enjoyment or consideration, and that there’s no want for additional context or remark. I have this relationship with a handful of individuals, the place we silently curate attention-grabbing content, and it’s truthfully change into my favourite solution to devour as a result of I’m uncovered to issues that my customized algorithms wouldn’t have proven me.

The most refined method is reaching them in the identical locations these controversial personalities are. Whether that’s by retweets, story posts or one thing of the type — uplifting various viewpoints can hopefully catch their eye whereas scrolling. Otherwise, there’ll proceed to be little to no dialogue or difficult on their feeds.

All you are able to do is pave a path ahead. It’s in the end as much as them to think about it, which in fact, can take time. It’s nuanced, it’s not straightforward — however you’re being an awesome buddy.