21 March 2019

Media Release

Christchurch woman, Leigh Kennedy, is calling for businesses and individuals to switch off Google and Facebook at 1:40pm tomorrow - Friday March 22nd - for 16 minutes.

Kennedy says exactly a week after the Christchurch mosque attacks and for the same period of time the vile video was allowed to be streamed on social media – 16 minutes – disengaging in large numbers would send a powerful message.

“We are encouraging people to switch off just before we stand together for two minutes silence - to put our focus where it belongs,” she says, “The attack was streamed live on Google and Facebook, unchecked, for over 16 minutes. This is quite simply deplorable. Time and time again, all over our world, we have been let down by illegal, exploitative, crass and objectionable material being let loose on the Internet without consequence. Enough is enough.”

Kennedy says she hopes the protest will also be picked up overseas, and as each country across the world hits 1:40 pm Friday there would be a global wave of disengagement.

“Momentum is building with New Zealand companies (Spark, Vodafone, Burger King, lottoNZ, ASB) signalling their dissatisfaction. Unilever in the UK has also threatened to pull ads from Facebook and Google. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-43032241,” she says. “This is an opportunity for each of us – as Jo average - to add to the campaign for change.”

In 2017 Google and Facebook collectively earned an estimated $100 billion from advertising and Leigh Kennedy says these tech giants must be made to place a much higher priority on people over excessive profit.

“Quite simply, we deserve and demand better,” she says.

People can follow posts (prior to and after the blackout of course) on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram, using #socialmediablackout

#changemaker #leadership #changeforthebetter #spark #vodafone #burgerking #asb #lotto #unilever #businessethics #organisationalchange #christchurch #newzealand #newzealandmosqueattack #peace #blackout #humancentered

ENDS

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