#BreakTheInternet. No, I’m not talking about Kim Kardashian’s backside on the cover of PAPER magazine. I’m talking about the web-wide protest to stop the FCC from repealing net neutrality laws.
The campaign started on Tuesday, and organizers have asked people to essentially “Break the Internet” by flooding their newsfeeds 48 hours leading up to the vote scheduled for Thursday. Participants have openly (and relentlessly) expressed opposition to chairman Ajit Pai’s plan to scrap laws making the Internet accessible and, ultimately, a free space for the public.
This is an Internet emergency. Less than 48 hours left until the vote to kill #NetNeutrality. #BreakTheInternet to demand that Congress #StopTheFCC. Take action: https://t.co/fO73oRhst7 via @IDLtweets
— Battle for the Net (@battleforthenet) December 12, 2017
“We have just days,” the campaign site, BattleforTheNet.com, reads. “The FCC is about to vote to end net neutrality—breaking the fundamental principle of the open Internet—and only an avalanche of calls to Congress can stop it. So until the December 14th vote, ‘Break the Internet’ on your site, with your profile picture, on Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, LinkedIn, reddit, Tumblr, Youtube or in whatever wild creative way you can to get your audience to contact Congress. That’s how we win. Are you in?”
There are many ways to partake. Protesters can change their profile pictures to angry emojis (provided on the site), upload banners to personal or professional pages and use hashtags like #BreakTheInternet, #NetNeutrality, #StopTheFCC and #SaveNetNeutrality in social media posts.
Organizers even provided templates for tweets in a spreadsheet — copy, paste, done — as well as a list of helpful tips explaining how to share your thoughts most effectively on each social platform. (My favorite? Setting your job as “Defending Net Neutrality” on LinkedIn.)
There’s only one day left until the FCC vote on Dec. 14, and the protest continues. Here are the best #BreakTheInternet tweets so far.
Informative
The FCC is days away from killing the free and open internet. Those of us who use the internet for resistance can’t afford to lose this fight. #BreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/lcC5487lI7
— ACLU (@ACLU) December 12, 2017
This is one way to help #BreakTheInternet #NetNeutrality #SaveTheInternet pic.twitter.com/q7rzh32lQc
— SMcCoy ? (@sdmccoy4) December 12, 2017
#SaveNetNeutrality #stoptheFCC #BreakTheInternet
Text “RESIST” To 50409
THIS IS WHAT THE INTERNET WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT NET NEUTRALITY!!! pic.twitter.com/Pwl8EhtUzu
— SaveNetNeutrality ! (@lmlyghosts) December 13, 2017
As a small business owner, I need #NetNeutrality to compete fairly in the marketplace. Please continue to fight on behalf of little guys. Thank you @SenatorHassan @RepMikeCoffman @SenSchumer #BreakTheInternet
— Dafina Roberts (@themightydro) December 12, 2017
Please call and email each of these FCC Commissioners to KEEP #netneutrality! They should call it “Internet Speed w/out Limit” because if they repeal it they’ll put the brakes on it and we’ll pay to speed it up, on every website that wants more money. This is VITAL!
DON’T REPEAL! pic.twitter.com/hbone9gXvX— ↪AustinDem↩ (@AustinDem1) December 13, 2017
What does a world without #NetNeutrality look like?
We already know. We can’t go back. #BreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/XXFEOXRiC0
— ACLU (@ACLU) December 12, 2017
Think about everything we will lose if we lose Net Neutrality –
·Small businesses
·Buying stuff online
·Artists and creators
•Internet friendships
·Having readily accessible knowledge
·Fair media coverage#NetNeutrality #breaktheinternet pic.twitter.com/OUIzrsieWM— #AIAIW out now ?? (@14katgurl) December 12, 2017
Cats?
Hey, everyone! Do what those cute and cuddly cats are doing and save #NetNeutrality right now! #BreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/AIbpMccroh
— Tracey Davis (@TraceyDavis21) December 12, 2017
Remember loading photos in the mid 90’s…? Remember how slow that was? Don’t let the FCC #breaktheinternet https://t.co/AjAmlmDILQ pic.twitter.com/gRaDKTdwuN
— Matt Sawyers (@msproductions) December 12, 2017
Two days until #NetNeutrality dies. As someone who enjoys videos about cats AND conspiracy theories surrounding alien abductions, I worry this’ll be the end of the net as we k ow it #BreakTheInternet
— Dan Haynes (@_ohdannyboy84) December 13, 2017
Fearless
What
if
one
party
controlled
two
branches
of
government
and
you
wanted
to
protest
them
but
the
page
you
were
using
to
organize
it
loaded
one
word
at
a
time?
Let’s #BreakTheInternet so the FCC hears us. Call Congress now. https://t.co/A3djW7UpN5
— ACLU (@ACLU) December 12, 2017
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss#BattleForTheNet #BreakTheInternet #HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas #NetNeutrality pic.twitter.com/aHO2NMqn3N
— Juno Son (@jsketch12) December 12, 2017
All thanks to meeee ? I’ve had to explain it a few times
I’ll gladly be a spokesperson for this #NetNeutrality pic.twitter.com/aCSe2Zj6TR— Booth ? (@BoothLoot) December 13, 2017
Help save #NetNeutrality with this one weird trick. (No but really though) https://t.co/805v85wU1s
— Fight for the Future (@fightfortheftr) December 12, 2017
This was actually projected on the FCC building:
Projecting on the FCC #NetNeutrality#StopTheFCC #BreakTheInternet #Resist https://t.co/8pSrynVxNg
— robin bell (@bellvisuals) December 12, 2017
Want to do more? Call the FCC at 202-759-7766 or text RESIST to 50409.
