Let’s face it: if you work in digital marketing and/or social media, your paycheck is contingent upon your continued use of apps that have become problematic and censored nearly overnight.
As a socially conscious, mission-driven marketing agency, the question we’ve been asking ourselves is how we can continue using Meta and TikTok in the most socially responsible way possible.
Here are 4 ways you can continue using Meta and TikTok in a social responsible, ethical way in 2025.
1. Delete your personal account.
The fact is – many of the people our brands need to reach are still on these platforms, and no other apps have replaced them yet. We can’t simply tell our clients we’ll no longer use Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok (lol). What we can do is divest ourselves on a personal level and delete our own accounts as an act of rebellion against Mark Zuckerberg’s removal of fact checkers and the alleged censorship of “liberal” ideologies (read: LGBTQ+ content, abortion, etc.). on both TikTok and Instagram.
2. Block and unfollow accounts, strategically.
If total account deactivation is out of the question (we get it), you can opt to block and unfollow specific accounts. There have been anecdotal report of people saying that their algorithm went back to [mostly] normal after blocking the official accounts of Facebook, Instagram, and Meta. In addition to blocking certain accounts, it’s worth taking inventory of who you follow – and then unfollowing accounts that don’t align with your values (including companies like Target, Walmart, and Amazon that have recently scaled back on DEI initiatives).
3. Take a stand!
While we may not realistically be able to delete Meta and TikTok (yet), we can use them to speak out, spread pertinent news & information, and do our best to stop the spread of misinformation. In this political climate, neutrality is complicity. (One of our favorite news & fact-checker social media accounts is Under the Desk News!)
4. Be an early adapter on emerging platforms.
It’s still too early to know which app the masses will migrate to (if any). The Chinese-owned RedNote is having its moment, and BlueSky recently announced that they have a photo app called Flashes in the works. We recommend claiming your username on any and all relevant new apps that are attracting buzz, and particularly, keep an eye on which ones are taking off!
