Social media showed its power of influence when it forced the Fairfield Glade Community Club Board of Directors to act on a very important issue before it was too late.
The board made the right decision to delay the community’s vote on a proposed amendment to the covenants and restrictions involving land development because of their concern there was an abundance of misinformation about it on social media.
That should be a wake-up call for the board to start communicating with the membership on social media platforms such as Nextdoor.
It wasn’t enough to post the board’s positions with an FAQ and PowerPoint presentation on the community club’s website.
It wasn’t enough to hold about a dozen information sessions on the proposal with relatively few people and only one session recorded for other members to watch.
It might not even be enough should the board conduct one of their town hall-style meetings that are open to everyone.
Social media is where the buzz is – for good, bad or ugly. Either way we look at it, it’s where many people are making up their minds on this amendment question, rightfully so or not.
Many people on Nextdoor do nice things for each other such as offer recommendations for contractors, alert the community to scammers and reconnect wandering dogs to their owners. That’s what it was created for.
But it also has become an online street corner where folks gather to shoot the breeze and often argue, sometimes disrespectfully. Many are misinformed on issues or simply have questions about them. The board could mingle with them there and, when necessary, step in and say “This is how it really is …”
Not everyone will be persuaded. But the board might consider it worth trying; otherwise, facts will continue to be misconstrued and dominated by untruths that are rampant on Nextdoor. Not saying anyone is lying; they may believe what they are posting is true or jump to erroneous conclusions and unwittingly spread them there.
Here’s one way for the board to start having that needed presence on social media: They could write their unified messages and designate someone, perhaps the communications coordinator, to post them on behalf of the board. Repeat as necessary.
Social media is still in many ways an online Wild West. But if board members ride into that territory armed with the facts in their holsters, they might dodge a bullet when the voting shootout begins at high noon.