Can Social Media Help Create Peace?
A new film called The Social Dilemma has everyone discussing the impact of social media during these times of COVID when so many of us are spending an exorbitant amount of time online. The film raises many important revelations about the dangers of growing online polarization, personal data-exploitation, fake news, and other dark consequences of social media on society and the world at large. Simultaneously there is a global movement that has found a very positive way to use platforms like Facebook to bring people together for the sake of presenting solutions, inspiration, and a healthy collective paradigm shift. This weekend you can experience for yourself what this movement looks like as we celebrate International Day of Peace with 3 days of visionary speakers and musical artists that culminates with a globally synchronized meditation on Monday, September 21.
If social media is so efficient at manipulation that it can trigger/worsen genocides, division, and wars, our self hatred, comparison, and criticism of others then imagine what it could do if applied differently. A simple fine tuning to the algorithms could spread more love, positivity, and unifying messages. What an incredibly powerful tool. -Kyle Colwell, Visionary Events Producer
Unify.org is a nonprofit organization who hosted their first globally synchronized meditation on December 21, 2012. Since then they have produced hundreds of international campaigns, synchronized online events, and live-streams for things like World Water Day, Earth Day, International Yoga Day, Women’s Day and much more. During these past 9 years The Unify Facebook Page has grown to almost 2 million people while attracting like-minded individuals who share a deep love for humanity and our planet. International Day of Peace, on September 21, has been a yearly celebration where the many partnering organizations and people in the Unify Global Community come together to create a beautiful offering.
In this period of unprecedented uncertainty and systems collapse, it is time to uplift the world with positivity and inspiration. Even when the world is locked down, our spirits can be lifted and our hearts can remain open. -Voices of Unity Press Release
Never has the world faced so much polarization and conflicting narratives while simultaneously facing a global pandemic, climate change, and the rise of authoritarianism. There could not be a more potent time to come together across our many ideological divides and national borders to celebrate a shared vision and a collective experience of peace. This year the innovative livestreaming and social networking platform, PORTL will be hosting both The Shift Summit, and Global Days of Unity in collaboration with Unify. Unify will simultaneously be curating the best content and delivering it through their Facebook Page.
The Global Song Circle is an invitation for people across the world to unite through the power of singing together. Through shared song, we aim to inspire people around the planet to join their voices together each month, even though we are all currently at home, and to sing as one ‘global choir’ united for harmony, peace and love. -Global Song Circle, Featured on Global Days of Unity
Our thoughts, intentions, and emotions project a bioelectric field that can be measured around the world. A few focused moments of breathing, meditation, or prayer can lower the heart rate, and create inner calm. When the whole world does this together, something truly profound happens. If you are new to the conversation about the scientific research into global coherence, you will enjoy reading the short article, Global Coherence: Humanity’s Evolutionary Leap 2020.
“Furthermore, Dr. Persinger also suggests that the earth’s magnetic field can act as a carrier of information between individuals and that information, rather than the intensity of the signal carrying it, is important for interaction with neural networks.” -Global Coherence Initiative
Unify is an organization as well as an ethos. By welcoming diverse voices in a collaborative and cooperative way rather than a competitive way, people are able to come together around solutions instead of arguing about problems. This is a paradigm shift in itself.
The Social Dilemma film (now available on Netflix) shows us, “the technology that connects us also controls/manipulates us.” This has to do with the underlying revenue model of exploiting users for their data and targeting them with advertisements. The COVID pandemic along with our hyper divisive political rhetoric have brought to light the many ways that our whole global economic system is built on these predatory principles of fear and outrage that ultimately divide and dehumanize us. There really is only one remedy for this situation. It is so simple and basic to us as a species that we often forget it.
Remember that peace, expressions of gratitude, generosity, compassion, and love are the highest attributes of being human. We experience these feelings of connection when we come together in unity and a sense of mutual respect. This does not mean that we will agree on everything or that we should agree on everything. Instead it is a recognition that despite our many differences there is much that we share in common. We can not wait or depend on our political systems to create this for us especially since there are underlying financial incentives to keep us divided, distracted, and pitted against each other.
Together we can rise above these challenges. It is truly an exciting time to see new platforms like PORTL emerging that bring a real sense of community back to social media. Unify is a global movement that invites your participation and creative offerings. When we embrace our highest nature we lift each other up this inspires peace and healing to ripple around the world. Perhaps we can offset the dark clouds for a moment with a resounding vibration of love?
Please take some time to explore the lineup for the Shift Summit and schedule your weekend around these great programs. On Monday, September 21 Global Days of Unity will broadcast live from a high point overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem – an ancient city that has seen both the highest expression of spiritual devotion and the deepest pain of the human condition. The Global meditation and prayer will be held at 8pm IDT / 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 10pm BST. Both of these events will livestream on PORTL with curated highlights and commentary on Unify.
Social media is a powerful tool. We can use it to create discord, fear, and violence, or we can use it to come together around solutions to share inspiration. Maybe we can even use social media as a means to create some peace in these troubled times. The choice is ours.