Various social issues have been surfacing as of late, #BlackLivesMatter being one of the most prominent ones. As recent events have highlighted, there are still changes that need to be made for all spaces to be more inclusive and push for equality.
Social media is one of those spaces. While social media usually does not explicitly exclude other cultures and beliefs, they sometimes reinforce problematic societal norms. Racism, bigotry, misogyny, and a whole host of other social issues are systemic. They exist within both private and public spaces, and some people do not even realize that they exhibit biased behavior.
Algorithms, for example, are dictated by behavior. Because of ingrained biases, people are inclined to view and patronize content that is considered “conventional” by society – even if they reinforce problematic social standards.
To make its platform more inclusive, YouTube released an infographic that looks to help creators make content that is both inclusive and sensitive. This is to address issues with representation and to hopefully direct people towards unlearning harmful biases and prejudices.
Implications for Marketers:
Marketers need to be more sensitive and inclusive in terms of the content that they create and post. It is incredibly important for brands to be socially-conscious, to not only foster a more inclusive environment online but also a more inclusive society.
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