Full disclosure, this hashtag comes as a result of discussions with pals in my network about how difficult it is for women of colour to gain followers on social media. It feels uncomfortable to say aloud, but there, I voiced it. 

Incredible Tweeters, like Bennie Kara (@benniekara), system leaders and authors like Diana Osagie (@Courageousleader), MBE holders like Evelyn Ford (@Evelynforde1) podcast hosts like Bukky Yusuf (@rondelle10_b), all give masses to the platform, but weirdly their voices don't get heard as much as others, and they certainly don't get followed in great numbers. 

It got me thinking about the utterly one-dimensional nature of my timeline also. In fact, my pal @bristol_teacher tweeted recently about her Instagram feed being full of shares about Transgender Awareness Week, and yet her Twitter feed remained relatively silent. My Instagram feed gives me loads of comment and opinion on anti-racist work, but my Twitter timeline doesn't reflect the same. 

So what can be done? Well, I'm not mad keen on follow, follow back threads as I think the real nub of this thing I'm talking about is engagement, engagement with new and different people. But, I want to do something about it which is why I am introducing (drum roll please…) #MixItUpMonday

Yes, friends, I am putting forward the hashtag #MixItUpMonday as a way of experimenting with engaging with other folks who don't look like you, have a worldview other than yours, people who are new to you, but whose intros and bios pique your interest. 

I'm hoping that the people who join in on this hashtag will want to explore new ideas, hoping they are people who want to disrupt their timelines a little, and I am keen on people joining in on this hashtag who work in the charities sector, in education and in other public sector and grassroots organisations. 

I'm looking for people to join us on this hashtag who want to do one of those Chirpty things and think, 'Blow me down, I've engaged with an entirely new group of people this month'. 

#MixItUpMonday will be an opportunity to disrupt the echo chamber and to lean into conversations that unsettle, provoke, restore, inspire, reassure, bother, excite and motivate you. 

So c’mon... let's do this!

I’m going to start using the hashtag and the prompt next Monday morning on the first Monday of May (3rd). Between now and then do start creating a bit of noise about the hashtag and maybe (if you want some very rudimentary analysis on the current state of the gender balance of your feed head to www.diversifyyourfeed.org. It is kinda interesting and you will pick up a few insights on your feed. 

You can also, between now and next Monday, do a sense check. This doesn't require any software other than your heart and your brain and an awareness of the nine protected characteristics. Perhaps, think about how diverse your followers are and how diverse your follow decisions are. 

Then, consider whether most of the people on your timeline make you feel warm and fuzzy. Is there any room for a little bit of disruption? If so, how?

The instructions for next Monday (remember Monday 3rd May) are below:

• Like the #MixItUpMonday post that I will put out each Monday morning.
• Retweet it.
• Reply to the tweet with a short bio.
• Maybe share some stuff about what you're up to and use the hashtag #MixItUpMonday.
• Perhaps tell us who you'd like to meet (I’d love to connect with more teacher interested in gender and charity leadership)
• Then follow new people and connect with them by posting something on their timeline too.

Have a great week!