Mckesson laments loss of Twitter for organizing
The activist argues at Web Summit that Instagram and TikTok have slowed the rapid mobilization that defined earlier protest movements.
By Lucas Navarro ·
DeRay Mckesson, an executive director of Campaign Zero and prominent voice in the Black Lives Matter movement, spoke at the Web Summit in Lisbon on Tuesday. He expressed a clear preference for the digital tools that facilitated his earliest work in street-level activism.
Mckesson stated that he misses Twitter, describing the platform as a powerful tool for rapid mobilization. He noted that the service, now rebranded as X by Elon Musk, allowed activists to coordinate quickly in real time. He contrasted this speed with the current reliance on Instagram and TikTok.
He explained that modern social media platforms have shifted the pace of digital storytelling. On Instagram, capturing video footage and editing it for distribution takes more time than tweeting. Mckesson argued this delay changes how civil rights activists engage with the public and organize protests.
Despite these changes, Mckesson acknowledged that newer platforms have expanded access to stories. He pointed to the recent U.S. midterm elections as evidence that Instagram and TikTok are effectively used to discuss candidates and political stances. He described this shift as a distinct change in how political conversations are conducted.
Mckesson cited New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani as an example of effective social media use. He noted that Mamdani used an influencer operation to highlight affordability issues during his campaign. Mckesson also observed that social justice content creators are gaining more traction as Americans grow tired of the current administration.
He highlighted opposition to ICE agents as a key area of current political focus. Mckesson said that large groups of people who do not identify as activists are pushing back against immigration enforcement. He noted that reporters are now questioning jail deaths in a manner that was not common in 2014 or 2015.
Mckesson concluded that legacy media is more willing to cover social and political issues today. He said mainstream outlets are helping to challenge systems when events seem bizarre to the public. He added that he is comfortable with nuanced conversation, noting that audiences are smarter now than they were a decade ago.
