We are an ever-growing community of grassroots truth-tellers who
effectively disrupt the flow of disinformation and misinformation online and offline. We do this by strategically writing and sharing powerful, personal, and unified counter-messages to the most damaging and destabilizing lies. We track our impact, learn, make adjustments and do it again–and again–together, to reclaim a civil society built on the shared value of the pursuit of objective truths.
Neither big tech nor government regulations will put a stop to the tsunami of right-wing disinformation any time soon. Yet every day we see bad actors with huge audiences exacerbate social tensions and foment mistrust to achieve personal, financial, and political gain. This environment leaves many people disheartened and unsure about how to respond, both online and offline.
That’s where the Indivisible Truth Brigade comes in. Truth Brigaders learn how and when to respond to even the most toxic disinformation with confidence and for the greatest impact. Activists and organizers like YOU are the key to countering disinformation. People believe sources they trust. When we share and amplify consistent, factual, and strategic messages to those who trust us, we measurably shift the narrative.
We disrupt the flow of disinformation and misinformation through two key strategies:
As a member of the Truth Brigade, you are asked to read and comply with our Community Code of Conduct listed here.
Please invite your friends by sharing this link to signup!
Indivisible Truth Brigade leadership works with a team of external disinformation experts who closely monitor bad actors and identify damaging disinformation as it spreads. Together, generally every two weeks, we strategically craft a model counter-message for Truth Brigade members to share. Sometimes Truth Brigade leadership will launch a rapid-response campaign, and sometimes we run longer-term message campaigns.
Our counter-messages are called “Truth Brigade message campaigns.” For every Truth Brigade message campaign, you are provided with explanations, resources, suggestions, examples, and graphics, which you can use to create your own messages to share on social media as well as in longer-form responses like Letters to the Editor or articles, or in offline conversations. New Truth Brigade message campaigns are announced in the Truth Brigade Slack community, on twice-monthly Zoom calls, and in weekly emails.
To better understand how we can effectively fight disinformation, we track our impact by analyzing the reach of our Truth Brigade messages. We share these metrics weekly in Slack and email. We’re so proud of where we’ve come! As of early 2022:
We launch Truth Brigade Message Campaigns on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of every month in Zoom calls. We will provide the call links and message campaign materials to you via Slack and email.
Research shows people tend to remember what they hear first, last, and most often. The Indivisible Truth Brigade message system therefore recommends crafting a counter-message in three short parts (sentences or phrases), opening and closing with a repeated version of the same truth. Our system builds beyond this framework, though, to encourage the most possible engagement with the message, and to prompt critical thought. This field of study is continually evolving, and so is the Truth Brigade.
The Indivisible Truth Sandwich example below positively counters The Big Lie about American elections that are used to create mistrust and undermine voting rights.
Discover: Why does this work?
We open messages with shared values, because people tend to lower defenses when they sense others share similar views, not when their views are under attack. Authentically identifying places of commonality can be challenging but it will help you become more objective, which ultimately strengthens your argument. We’re all tempted to lead with the facts and tell people why they’re wrong, but this prompts the listener to become more entrenched in their beliefs, and even angry. Primal emotions like anger can shut down higher mental processes, like analytical thinking.
Disrupt: Why does this work?
The middle of your “sandwich” is all about increasing critical thought–which means opening the reader’s mind to the possibility of doing additional research. We know that most people share disinformation and misinformation inadvertently–and are less likely to share when prompted to think! Be careful not to repeat the lie or the language of the lie here. Instead, block that click by providing a reason to question the disinformers’ motives or fact-check the veracity of the source.
Dream: Why does this work?
When you close your message with a truthful and inspiring statement about the benefits that arise from this shared truth, you give people an emotional connection to the message, and a reason to share it and take positive action.
What happens after you open a conversation with a truth sandwich with shared values, disruption of disinformation, and a truthful and inspiring statement? Here are some ways you can build on that successful initial conversation and shift someone into even more effective engagement in the short term:
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