Connect on Social Media

Using Social Media for Advocacy and Outreach 

Social media has changed the way the public communicates with policymakers.

A 2015 survey of congressional staff by the Congressional Management Foundation shows that a handful of comments on social media may be just as effective as thousands of emails. The study, which polled Capitol Hill communications directors, legislative directors, and legislative assistants, found that fewer than 30 comments on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter were enough to grab a legislator’s attention.

FASEB uses social media to share advocacy news and information about science and science policy with Federation members and the public. Here are some tips on how you can use social media to spread awareness of and engage with lawmakers about issues affecting biological and biomedical researchers.

Join the Conversation on Twitter 

Engage with senators and representatives on Twitter to build visibility and credibility with their offices.

  • Tweet: A 280-character message.
  • Retweet (RT): Sharing someone else's tweet. For example, if a colleague or legislator posts a link to an article or announcement, you can simply retweet it.
  • Feed: The stream of tweets you see on your homepage. It shows updates from users you follow.
  • Handle: Your username.
  • Follow: Following a user allows you to see their tweets in your feed. Click on a username or navigate to a user's profile. (Trying to find a particular user? Visit Twitter for detailed instructions on how to find them.) Click the follow button when you see it next to a user's profile photo or on a user's profile page.
  • Mention (@): A way to reference another user in a tweet (e.g. @FASEBorg) and conduct discussions with other users in a public realm. Type your tweet as you normally would, but replace any names you include with that person's @username. Make sure there are no spaces between the user’s handle and the @ symbol. Users are notified when they are @mentioned.
  • Reply: Click the @reply icon to start a conversation with someone by replying to their tweet.
  • Narrowcasting: To mention a @username at the very start of a tweet but ensure that all your followers see the message, place a period (.) or other symbol (>) before the @reply. (e.g., .@FASEBorg Factsheets Provide District-Specific Data on Investment in Research http://buff.ly/1OCEw5O #PhD)
  • Hashtag (#): A hashtag is a discovery tool that allows others to find your tweets based on topics. You can also click on a hashtag to see all the tweets that mention it in real time—even from people you don't follow. 

Customize Your Efforts  

  • Find lawmakers’ Twitter handles (ex. @SenatorBarb) by visiting their website and clicking on the Twitter icon. You may also find their Twitter handles by checking C-Span’s list of representatives and senators. Familiarize yourself with the issues a particular legislator tweets about by scrolling down her/his timeline.
  • Whenever appropriate, tag your lawmakers in your tweets, particularly in tweets that thank them for visiting with you. This increases the chances legislators will see your advocacy messages. If a colleague or legislator shares a link to an article or announcement, you can also retweet it.
  • Denote a topic of conversation or participate in a larger linked discussion by using specific hashtags (e.g., #RaiseTheCaps, #FundScience).
  • Consider including FASEB resources in your tweet. Use a hashtag (#) to highlight a special issue.

Sample Tweets

FASEB urges Congress to provide robust, sustained, and predictable budget increases for science funding agencies. Find out why this investment is critical: #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience #FY24

Retweet and tag your lawmakers to urge them to support increased funding for scientific research! #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience #FY24

View a breakdown of federal research funding by state and district. Tweet to your elected officials and show them what federal research projects have supported in your state. Ask them to support FASEB’s recommended funding levels for #FY24. #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience

NIH Funding

Congress must continue to provide increases for @NIH in order to address daunting public health issues, including infectious diseases and an aging U.S. population. To do so, FASEB recommends NIH funding of at least $50.9 billion in #FY2024. #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience #FundNIH #FY24

Despite Congress’ renewed commitment to @NIH, public funding for research has not kept pace with the scientific challenges and opportunities facing our nation. See FASEB’s recommended funding for NIH in #FY24 #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience #FundNIH

NSF Funding

Congress: Did you know @NSF has not seen a real budget increase in nearly 20 years? #NSFMatters FASEB recommends an NSF funding level of at least $15.7 billion in #FY24. #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience

In partnership with @NIH, @NSF plays a key role in advancing health and other critical priorities. FASEB recommends an NSF funding level of at least $15.7 billion in #FY24. #FASEBOnTheHill #FundScience #NSFMatters

Coronavirus

Investments in the biological sciences are critical to address the current crisis and prevent future outbreaks. #FundNIH #FundScience

A study funded by @NIH found the virus that causes COVID-19 can be detected on surfaces longer than expected, providing critical info to help prevent infection. #FundNIH 

Scientific discovery and data provided the foundation for tremendous technological and societal advances in the U.S. Rely on science to fight COVID-19. #FundScience

Harnessing the Power of Facebook

Compared to other social networking sites, Facebook has the largest audience–an average of 968 million people used the platform daily as of June 2015, according to the site. Facebook content also has a longer lifespan than tweets (hours versus seconds), but posts still must be relevant and engaging in order to rank higher in newsfeeds.

Nonprofits, legislators, and government institutions use Facebook to engage with and seek feedback from the public. Lawmakers are likely to respond when constituents interact with content posted on their page, according to the CMF poll, however, most engagement happens within the first few hours of posting content.

Get Started with Facebook

  • Timelines: A digital document of wall posts, photos, announcements, and events.
  • The “Like” button: Lives on nearly every piece of Facebook content: status updates, photos, comments, brand timelines, apps, and ads. It communicates your support of activities, brands, articles, and products to fellow users, Facebook, and third parties.
  • Take stock of the groups or legislators you’d like to follow, search for their timelines and like them on Facebook. You’ll start seeing their updates appear in your newsfeed alongside those of your friends.
  • FASEB encourages those with smartphones or digital cameras to take photos or videos when participating in advocacy events. Post photos and videos to your Facebook wall and those of your lawmakers. Get permission from your lawmaker before posting any photos of them.