Inclusion in the social media industry starts with you

[fomayof928@mowline]

They should also work with (and compensate) DEI educators to understand how best to prioritize the needs of underrepresented communities in their audiences and candidate pools.

Rokiski described how he did this in past roles. “When I work france b2b leads in LGBTQ+ nonprofits, I can’t just prioritize the queer, cisgender, white perspective (which is how I identify). So I spend countless hours listening to, uplifting, and ensuring that other marginalized people in the LGBTQ+ community cultural voices—especially those with intersectional identities—featured in the social content we publish.”

Screenshot of Greg Rokisky’s post, which reads: Two things: 1) Grounding ourselves through the lens of intersectionality is as important for us now as ever. 2) The more privilege you have, the more you need to take action and get involved when injustice occurs, no matter how exhausting or helpless it may be. I know you get it. Heart emoji.

It’s crucial to apply what you learn to the work you do. "Always question what you can do to make your content, teams, and practices more authentic, transparent, and inclusive," advises Rokisky. "Incorporate these exercises into your processes and plans throughout the year." One way to do this is Co-create content with creators and subject matter experts from underrepresented populations. Even if you don’t have the budget to increase your headcount, finding freelancers, creators, and agencies is a step toward a more inclusive industry.

We know that many of you, our readers, belong to the majority group of social media professionals. As a white, millennial woman in social circles, I must admit that the data we collected and the expert interviews we conducted for this article prompted me to confront what I (and Sprout) were doing to make the industry more Inclusiveness. I hope they do the same for you.

Armed with this data and these perspectives, you may feel empowered to rethink your hiring process, invest in the long-term career development of employees from underrepresented backgrounds, and educate yourself and your broader team on the importance of diversity to your strategy influence.

As a first step, check out our guide to building a social media team.