Watch Craig Newmark talk to genConnect more about how craigconnects and social media helps give everyone a voice and why he thinks this is the decade of “pivotal change”: 

WATCH: Newark Mayor Cory Booker on the Future of #Waywire

“You’ve got to get used to making social media an everyday thing, not just for your friends but to pay attention to the stuff you believe in, that you can get behind,” Newmark says as to how one can help give back and get involved in great causes. “The idea is to get involved and get ready because I think this decade is pivotal in human history and regular people are going to get stuff done that people in charge may not be able to.”

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Craig Newmark

Today is Internet Freedom Day and that’s a really big deal. A year ago, many good people on the Internet came together to stop the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). Internet Freedom Day reminds us that we all need to work together to preserve what we have and to help everyone realize their own individual voice. It’s something which we assert frequently, not just one day, but it’s one way to remind ourselves that what we take for granted can be lost.

Related: The Internet: Altering the Future of Relationships and Communities

This year, I asked folks: How does the Internet give you a voice?

I got a lot of really good responses, and wanted to share some of them with you on Internet Freedom Day.

danah boyd: Senior Researcher at Microsoft Research:  In a broadcast environment, the young punk troublemaking activist version of me would never have been given a microphone.  In a world of credentialing and hierarchies, I was nobody. But in 1997, I started blogging. I started documenting what I saw and providing my interpretation of key socio-technical issues. I was able to draw people in and build an audience based on my insights, not my status. This became the foundation of my career. As a teenager, the internet allowed me to realize I wasn’t alone. As an adult, the internet allowed me to use my voice to share knowledge and inform others. I wouldn’t be who I am if it weren’t for the internet.

Gary Vaynerchuk, Author, Wine, and Social Media Expert, ‏@garyvee: Allowed a jersey wine retailer like me the chance to speak to the wine world by never leaving my office and not rely on media.

Elisa Camahort Page, ‏Co-Founder of BlogHer, @ElisaC: When I started using it myself it changed ALL. Made me a writer, an activist & finally an entrepreneur.

Ilyse Hogue, ‏President of NARAL, @ilyseh: I’ve never had trouble having a voice, but it sure as hell has made it louder! #InternetFreedom

Deb Schultz, Co-host of Tummelvision, @debs: Voice is awesome. Step 1…let’s think big and move to step 2 – better conversations and action! #internetfreedomday #tummel

Tara Hunt, Author and Entrepreneur: Every time I was lost, the internet found me. Or rather, the people on the internet did, but without the platform, it wouldn’t have been possible. Because of the internet, I found a voice, I built a career, I wrote a book, I became a public speaker, I traveled all over the world, I met (and meet) thousands of interesting people I wouldn’t have otherwise, I started movements, I joined movements, I met my cofounders, I met the love of my life, I adopted my dog, I keep in touch with my son, I learn and grow every single day…I don’t know if I could even imagine a world without the web. My IRL world and my virtual world are interlinked so deeply that there are no clear boundaries.

Danielle Brigida, Senior Manager of Social Strategy at NWF: The internet gives me a voice, but it also gives me new ears to listen. I feel like I learn so much every day from the people I associate with online. I also know that while it provides unique ways to express myself, it can extend the life of my experiences elsewhere– offline.

Jill M. Foster, Founder of Live Your Talk: The Internet breaks the world of self-assertion wide open. It has become many things, centrally a testing ground for my perspective and creativity. Could an idea work on online video? or better through a photo essay? Or is it better written, brief, and social? It lets answers to these questions be tested more than what I ever imagined; that’s powerful for testing voice and point of view. And strangely, the Internet has revealed when silence is golden too, leaving the voice to turn inward or offline.

Sheila Katz, Associate Director of Ask Big Questions: Without a doubt in my mind, I know that the internet has maximized my voice…..[Today] I posted an article on gender equality and shared information on organizations I feel passionate about. I use social media to fundraise for excellent causes, share my voice in national conversations around important issues, and to get more students asking Big Questions. I use the internet to create community and spark action.

@Britrock: For squirrels it obviously gives them a voice where in the past they only had squeaks.

@jamie_love: Allows us to create a user generated new media, in an era where journalism is under-funded and reporting scarce.

Margaret Carney Myers: I get to read about people doing things I have only dreamed of – like protesting the Keystone pipeline on stolen Native American land.

@jerryjamesstone: I am big into food issues and recipes and I am able to explore that with. #InternetFreedom

@connectaschool: If we want to nurture a critical mass of young people who trust and respect each other, we need an Internet that fosters freedom of expression. If we want to empower future leaders to work together towards a healthier and safer planet, we need an Internet that supports an open and fair exchange of ideas.

@chr15_eat0n: The internet allows me to connect with freedom fighters around the world & act in solidarity with them.

@yearofkindness1: I started a youth empowerment and anti-bullying movement in my school focusing on bravery and awareness.  The Internet allows me to reach people all over the country at the same time, and it works!

Debby Guardino: I’m just a teacher. I’m not anybody special. But by spending a few weeks on a computer in my living room, I was able to generate $400,000 in donations. I’m just blown away by the power of social media. It’s made me more confident. I feel like I can do anything when I set my mind to it.

Bessie & Claude DiDomenica: For many people, freedom and liberty seem to be ethereal nebulous concepts. However, people without freedom appreciate what we all often take for granted. Our thanks to craigconnects for the opportunity to remember ideas that are most precious to all of us: Freedom and liberty. We all need to work together to protect our liberties…Far too often, there are forces that don’t understand the shortsightedness of censorship.

Angela Young: I think that everyone has something to say. Traditionally, finding the right platform to say it was challenging. Now that we have the Internet, it provides the ability for each and every person to create their on platform to share what they need to, or are inspired to share with others.

I really want to help give a real voice to the voiceless where I can, and it’s nice to start with the Internet – a place that gives me a voice too. We need to protect what we have in the US, and that includes really protecting our freedom on the Internet. Let’s all make a point to remember #InternetFreedom Day throughout the year, folks, it really connects us and helps to give the powerless real power.

How does the Internet give you a voice? Keep the conversation going by commenting below:

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CDA 230 is a part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, and it essentially shields “interactive computer service providers” from liability for information posted or published by users of their systems. It also prevents providers from being forced to censor their user content. Section 230 was retained after other parts of the CDA were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court and has been a valuable defense against legal challenges for Internet intermediaries ever since.

Craigslist Founder Craig Newmark and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) released an infographic this week which outlines the benefits of CD 230 and why it’s so vital to the growth of a healthy Internet.

Related: Think You Have the Right to Vote? (INFOGRAPHIC)

“CDA 230: the Most Important Law Protecting Internet Speech” is a fact-filled look at the law which prevents websites, blogs and forums from being targeted as a means to silence free speech. It protects web services and social networks from being sued for hosting third-party speech and comments.

“This law helps protect free speech online,” said Newmark, who participated in the creation of the info graphic through his craigconnects initiative. “It’s made a  huge contribution to the explosion of innovation and expression online, and we need it.”

“Congress got it fundamentally right in passing CDA 230,” said EFF Senior Staff Attorney Matt Zimmerman. “Speech should not be left vulnerable to collateral threats aimed at providers who allow millions of people to speak and obtain information online. Providing strong legal safeguards for Internet platforms ensures that as many people as possible have the opportunity to participate online.”

WATCH: How the Web Can Hold Politicians Accountable

Craig Newmark

“If we lost this law it would probably destroy the Web as we know it,” added Newmark. He said that if CDA 230 did not exist, popular sites such as Huffington Post, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Reddit and others could be sued every time a user crossed the line. Blogs, forums and other sites that often deal with controversial issues could be held legally accountable for comments made by third parties. Innovation would be diminished as new social media platforms and products would face huge new obstacles to getting started. Review sites such as Yelp, Trip Advisor, and Angie’s List could similarly be pressured to silence unpopular opinions.

Related: Anti-SOPA Groups Demand Congress Halt IP Work

“Countless sites and online services that people rely on every day exist because of a legal and technical framework that encourages the hosting of a wide range of speech and not censoring what we say, what we see, and what we do online,” said Zimmerman. “CDA 230 is instrumental in protecting that framework.”

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I worked with the craigconnects team to create an extremely fact checked infographic to show what’s been going on. I feel that people in the social sector are starting to work together in more and better ways – the good people at Brennan Center for Justice, League of Women Voters, Rock the Vote, and Voto Latino have been very helpful with all of their research and surveys.

Courtesy of craigconnects; Click here for the complete infographic.

Voter Suppression is happening across the U.S. as restrictive voting laws are being both introduced and passed. 164 laws were introduced in states that would restrict U.S. Citizens from voting in the 2012 U.S. Election.

Related: How the Web Can Hold Politicians Accountable (VIDEO)

Restrictive voting has taken these forms:

• Eliminating election-day registration
• Restricting third-party voter registration activities
• Reducing the number of days for early voting
• Legislation requiring photo ID for in-person voting

Restrictions most heavily disenfranchise young, minority, and low-income voters, as well as voters with disabilities. We need to prevent bad legislation from preventing people to vote in the 2012 U.S. election.

Related: Where Do You Find Political News You Can Trust?

Craig Newmark

Other important facts uncovered in the full infographic:

• 5 million eligible voters may find it harder to vote in the 2012 U.S. election due to the voter suppression laws.
• Voter ID laws could cost taxpayers $65.8 million in 4 states: PA, IN, NC, MI. All of these states had huge budget shortfalls in 2011.
• 34 states introduced legislation requiring voters to show photo ID in order to vote.
• More than 20 million voting age citizens don’t have the type of photo ID required by the state voter ID laws, the majority being African-Americans, Asian-Americans and Latinos.
• 3 states passed laws slashing early voting periods by 50%. 1-2 million voters will be affected by the reduction of early voting periods.’
• 15 states introduced legislation that would require proof of citizenship to register and to vote. This will affect 696,000 citizens and potential voters.

Awareness and helping to spread the word is a big deal, but understanding a given issue and its complexities is equally important for folks who want to stand up for change.

Click here for the full article from craigvonnects and the voter resources available to you.

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Watch Craig Newmark discuss being a nerd and how the web is holding politicians accountable:

Craig Newmark

This election year, craigconnects is focusing on issues including voter protection and ensuring everybody who wants to vote can, as well as truthfulness. “It’s grown acceptable for some politicians to just come out and lie and we need means to try to deal with that,” Newmark said.

Related: Where Do You Find Political News You Can Trust?

Saying the traditional media and press don’t fact-check enough to hold politicians and other authority figures accountable, “we need people of good will to get the job done,” Newmark added. ”Ordinary people should act together to hold bad actors accountable. People are beginning to figure out how to do that.”

More from Craig Newmark on genConnect: How Non-Profits Use Social Media

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Craig Newmark

Craig Newmark survey says most people say trustworthiness is top priority when looking for political news sources; few get news from social media

As the nation gears up for a general election in November that has already turned negative, Craigslist and craigconnects founder Craig Newmark today released the results of a survey showing that Americans aren’t always sure where to find political and election news they can trust.

The survey of likely voters detailed their attitudes about what they look for in a news outlet, the trustworthiness of news outlets, and the effect of social media on news quality. Despite the proliferation of social media, most people still aren’t getting their hard political news from these sources. An infographic detailing the survey results can be found on craigconnects.org, Newmark’s personal, Web-based initiative to support philanthropy, public service, and organizations getting results in both areas.

WATCH: How Craig Newmark Connects Non-Profits

“I’m not in the news business and I won’t tell anybody how to do their job,” Newmark said. “But I am a news consumer and I’d like to know I can trust the news I’m getting.’

Conducted as part of his craigconnects initiative, the survey found:

• Voters look for trustworthiness above all other characteristics in a source of election news, with 49% calling it the most important quality in a news outlet
• Only 6% said a news outlet’s ability to be first with a story was valued above all other; in-depth analysis was the second most-valued quality  at 23%.
• There appears to be no single type of news outlet voters find most trustworthy.  Among cable news, network news, newspapers, talk radio, Internet new sites, and blogs and social media – the traditional news outlets scored highest in terms of perceived credibility compared to newer and less traditional media.
• Less than 25% described any source of election news as very credible; Newspapers scored the highest with 22% with cable and network TV news at 21%. Talk radio, often cited as influential on political news, scored only 13%. Non-traditional media such as Internet news sites, and blogs and social media sites, scored #13 and 6%, respectively.

“Most people aren’t getting hard election news from social media,” Newmark said. “Tech folks and early adapters are, but not most people, not yet.”

Related: Craig Newmark on How Non-Profits Use Social Media

But he pointed out that Interest-based efforts hold great promise for helping ensure trustworthiness and boosting public confidence in news reporting. “It’s called fact-checking, and there are a lot of good people working on it,” he said. “They’re looking at ways to help the news media hold candidates and other public figures accountable for what they tell the public. So far it’s hard, and it’s not inexpensive, but it’s really important.”

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Watch our interview with Craig below to learn more about craigconnects, some of the many nonprofits Craig supports, and how you can get involved: