Harnessing the Power of Hashtag Activism

BY BEARING WITNESS FOR EACH OTHER, WE KNOW WE ARE NOT ALONE

Hashtag activism has emerged as a powerful tool for raising awareness and mobilizing people around social and political issues. By using hashtags to share personal stories, experiences, and opinions, individuals can collectively shed light on important topics and create a sense of community and solidarity. Successful examples of hashtag activism include #MeToo, which sparked a global conversation about sexual harassment and assault, and #BlackLivesMatter, which drew attention to systemic racism and police brutality.

The #igotout movement builds upon this tradition of hashtag activism by amplifying the voices of survivors of high-control environments, such as cults, abusive relationships and families, and exploitative groups. By sharing our stories using the #igotout hashtag, we can break down feelings of isolation and shame, connect with others who have faced similar challenges, and raise awareness about the impact of undue influence and coercive control.

Through the collective power of individual stories, the #igotout movement aims to provide real-world examples of how people can be drawn into cultic environments, emphasizing the everyday nature of these abuses of power. By minimizing sensationalism and focusing on the tactics used by abusive individuals or groups to control and exploit others, these stories can serve as a valuable educational resource for younger audiences who could benefit from learning about manipulation tactics and online recruiting.

By bringing together stories from a wide range of abusive and high-control environments under one hashtag, the #igotout movement aims to illuminate the common patterns and mechanisms of undue influence. This increased understanding can help survivors and the general public recognize warning signs, avoid future involvement in such situations, and better grasp the complexities faced by victims. With a more informed perspective on the dynamics of coercive control, people serving on juries in cases involving these issues can make more reasoned judgments, reducing victim-blaming and increasing the likelihood of abusers being held accountable for their actions.

As they say, "the devil is in the details." If or when you post online, consider sharing the story of a specific situation or an example relating to mechanisms of coercive control (such as sleep deprivation or labor trafficking). You will be surprised how many folks will relate to and resonate with your experience!

When engaging with the #igotout community, remember to offer support and validation to others and use trigger warnings when discussing sensitive content. By sharing your experience, you can contribute to a growing body of knowledge about the realities of undue influence and coercive control, as well as helping empower others in their own journey of healing and self-discovery.

Together, our stories can make a difference.

 
 
 
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In being heard,

we feel seen.
In listening, we heal.

• Share your story on your social media platforms using the #igotout hashtag.

• Engage with others by commenting on their posts and using the #igotout hashtag.

• Follow #igotout and related hashtags to discover new connections and build community.

• Amplify other survivors' voices by reposting their content with the #igotout hashtag.

• Contribute to the community by sharing resources that have helped you in your healing journey.

• Tag @igotout_org on instagram as a post collaborator to increase visibility and amplify your post (as explained below).

 
 
 
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Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
— Margaret Mead
 
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The Power of Anonymous Activism

For many survivors of high-control groups, sharing their stories can be a daunting prospect. Fear of retaliation, shame, or the potential impact on loved ones still involved in these groups can make it feel unsafe to speak out publicly. However, the rise of social media and online platforms has opened up new possibilities for anonymous activism, allowing survivors to have their voices heard while protecting their identities.

Anonymous storytelling is a powerful tool for healing, education, and prevention. By sharing our experiences, even without mentioning the names of groups and the people involved, we can help others recognize the patterns and mechanics of control that are often hidden beneath the surface of cultic life. As we connect with survivors from diverse backgrounds and groups, we begin to see the common threads that unite our experiences.

The #igotout movement and the igotout.org website are intended to provide supportive spaces for survivors to share their stories anonymously. Additionally, by setting up private profiles on social media platforms and engaging with the growing online survivor community, those getting out can take the first steps towards reclaiming their voices and finding support. Reading the posts and stories of others can be a self-affirming experience, helping us make sense of our own confusion and loss.

Anonymous activism also allows survivors to amplify their voices while diminishing the fear of personal repercussions. By sharing our stories through platforms like igotout.org, we can reach a wider audience and contribute to the growing movement of awareness and prevention. Our experiences, even when shared anonymously, have the power to shine a light on the manipulative tactics of high-control groups and inspire others to break free from their influence.

In a world where social media has become an integral part of our lives, it is up to all of us to leverage these platforms for good. By connecting through our stories, we can heal ourselves and each other, educate and inform the public, and work towards a future where the power of high-control groups is diminished and the impact of exploitive people is thwarted. Whether we choose to share our stories publicly or anonymously, every voice matters in the fight for freedom and autonomy.

 
 
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All struggles against oppression in the modern world begin by redefining what had previously been considered private, non-public and non-political issues as matters of public concern, as issues of justice, as sites of power.
— Seyla Benhabib, PhD
 
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In addition to #igotout, use and follow other hashtags to grow your connections and amplify your content!

When selecting hashtags for your posts, choose the ones that are most relevant to your specific content and experiences. This will help ensure that your posts reach the appropriate audience and connect you with others who share similar stories. Take some time to explore the hashtags you use, engaging with posts that resonate with you to foster a sense of community and support. Remember, your safety and well-being should always be a top priority when sharing personal stories or interacting with others online.


General Tags:

#cultawareness #coercivecontrol #boundedchoice #survivor #healing #spiritualabuse #tellyourstory #shareyourstory #youarenotalone #selfhelp #highdemandgroups #highcontrolgroup #cults #cultsurvivor #cultrecovery #culteducation #religioustrauma #spiritualtrauma #deconstruction #indoctrination #survivorstories #excult #cultabuse #patriarchy #indoctrination #rebuilding #resilient #cult #recovery #healingtogether #FGKIA #brainwashing #manipulation #redflags #healing #hope #freethinker #narcissistabuse #narcissist #narcissisticabusesurvivor #familycults #oneononecults #boundaries #emotionalabuse #gaslighting #grooming #lovebombing #thoughtreform

Toxic Relationships / Dysfunctional Family Systems:

#toxicfamily #dysfunctionalfamily #narcissisticparents #narcissisticfamily #parentalalienation #parentalalienationawareness #alienatedchild #targetedparent#estrangedfamily #estrangedadult #estrangement #familyestrangement #familytrauma #healingfamilytrauma #narcissisticabuse #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissisticabusesurvivor #narcissisticrelationship #codependency #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #manipulativerelationship #toxicrelationship #gaslighting #lovebombing #traumabond #boundariesaftertrauma #castesystem #religiouscontrol #politicalcontrol #patriarchy #genderdiscrimination #honorculture #honorkillings #forcedmarriage #domesticviolence

Narcissistic Relationships / Dating Scams:

#datingscam #romancescam #onlinedatingscam #catfishing #lovefraud #sweetheartswindle #narcissisticabuse #narcissisticabuserecovery #narcissisticabusesurvivor #narcissisticrelationship #lovebombing #futurefraud #emotionalmanipulation #financialabuse #grooming #gaslighting #breadcrumbing #emotionalabuse #psychologicalabuse #manipulativerelationship #toxicrelationship #sextortion #conartist #sextrafficking #slaverynomore #fraudulentrelationship #datingafter40 #datingafter50 #midlifedating #singleparentdating #militarydatingscam #fakeprofile #fakelove #fakesoulmate #twinflame

Evangelical / Christian Based Groups:

#christianpatriarchy #exvangelical #purityculture #patriarchy #deconstruction #exchristian #religiousabuse #spiritualabuse #religioustrauma #spiritualtrauma #religion #moonies #offeredchild #unificationchurch #exmoonie #2ndgeneration #pimo #blessedchild #queerexmoonie #exjw #apostate #religiousdeconstruction #deconstructingfaith #faithfullyLGBT #exevangelical #exfundamentalist

Wellness / Self Help / New Age:

#newage #therapy #yoga #wellnesscommunity #Meditation #Tai Chi #Qigong #Prayer #Mindfulness #spiritualbypassing #karma #spiritualcommunity #wisdom #meaning #community #cultofwellness #selfhelpscam #toxicpositivity #pseudoscience #healthmisinformation #LGATs

Online Influence / Conspiracy Theories:

#undueinfluence #mindcontrol #ethicaltechnolgy #ethics #brainwashing #freedomofmind #freedom #freedomfighter #psyops #freedomofspeech #discernment #socialmedia #socialmediatips #influence #influencer #influencers #journalism #algorithm #socialinfluence #socialinfluencer #redflags #cultsurvivor #disinformation #mediamanipulation #fakenews #conspiracytheories #criticalthinking

Troubled Teen Industry:

#unitedwithonevoice #iseeyousurvivor #stopchildabuse #unsilenced #institutionalabuse #2ndGen #traumarecovery #endTTI #traumasurvivor  #mentalhealth #wwaspsurvivors #troubledteenindustry #endinstitutionalchildabuse #breakingcodesilence #survivorspeaks #troubledteens #youthrightsarehumanrights #endteenabuse

Multi Level Marketing / High Control Workplaces:

#multilevelmarketing #networkmarketing #networkmarketingsuccess #networkmarketinglifestyle #directsales #antimlm #directsellingnews #AntiMLM #MLMAdvocate #MLMLife #MLM #commercialcults #labortrafficking #humantrafficking #endhumantrafficking #childslavery #childlabor #commercialcult #workplacecult #workplacecults #cultsatwork #badboss #laborexploitation #forcedlabor #toxicworkplace #migrantworkers #immigrantrights #pyramidscheme #predatorybusiness #deceptiverecruiting #ethicalbusiness #workerexploitation

 
 
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