2020 has been transformative. If you’re ready to make sense of the events that have transpired this year, revolutionising your Instagram feed is a good start. So here’s a curated list of accounts to follow—sit back, and get ready to put in the work to unlearn. (Oh, and don’t forget to open Instagram.)
1. @theslowfactory
The Slow Factory Foundation works at the intersection of climate and culture; building community and growing movements through education. Specifically: open education. Since 2013, they’ve been “providing tools necessary to fight climate change and societal injustices through decoded language and open knowledge”. Which basically means that they’re making information accessible, through their events, projects and of course, their Instagram page.
Follow for: timely updates on social injustices around the world, bite-sized lessons on topics relevant to climate and social justice, informative lives and the occasional super-relatable activist memes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4G23hpGly/
2. @mimizhuxiyuan
You’ve probably seen their viral post way back in March when it was reposted by Britney Spears. But Mimi’s account has been consistently filled with words of affirmation and prompts for what they call “reflective resistance”. They also curate a newsletter titled “WRITE2HEAL”, stemming from their belief that writing is a practice “we can all use to heal”. Accounts that talk about self-care and unlearning in the same breath are hard to come by, but Mimi’s is one of them.
Follow for: writing prompts for radical reflection and words that heal the self and the collective.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B92IAual8pA/
3. @aditimayer
Aditi is one of our all-time favourite influencers who really walks the talk when it comes to using her platform for good. She’s a sustainable fashion blogger who explores the intersection of style, sustainability and social justice. “Frustrated with the lack of representation and intersectionality within the sustainability movement,” she writes on her website, “ADIMAY became a space that looked at sustainability with an eye that was equally curious, curatorial, and critical.”
Follow for: deep-dives into decolonising fashion, critical perspectives on sustainable fashion and aesthetic photos and unboxings (of conscious brands, of course).
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCxOps1lRbq/
4. @intersectionalenvironmentalist
Aditi also happens to sit on the council of Intersectional Environmentalist: a platform for resources, information and action steps to support intersectional environmentalism and dismantle systems of oppression. If it sounds intense, it’s because it is. The platform, however, is very accessible and boasts a wealth of free and accessible knowledge open to all. It’s also led by environmental activists and sustainability advocates we love.
Follow for: intersectional and relevant perspectives and resources on how to decolonise environmentalism.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBZSo-Vn1BK/
5. @queerbrownvegan
Another conscious human who sits on the council of Intersectional Environmentalist is Isaias Hernandez, an environmental educator who, according to him, “just so happens to be vegan and zero waste”. As a Queer, Brown and Vegan environmentalist, Isaias is working towards creating safe spaces for other like-minded environmentalists to engage in the discourse of the current climate crisis.
Follow for: accessible, bite-sized educational content about the environment.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CAvkldpnkXg/
6. @theslacktivists
We live in a new age now. Social media activism is no longer something to be disregarded—it’s not armchair activism. It spreads the word about issues that mainstream media fails to cover, and it spreads the word fast. the slacktivists, a community-based comprehensive media platform, does exactly this. With so many things going on the world and so many mainstream platforms failing to direct attention towards the most urgent of social issues, this is one platform to watch.
Follow for: informative and relevant updates on what’s going on in the world, along with calls to action and resources to boot.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDfrFlqhQVf/
7. @andrearanaej
Andréa writes about herself and the space she’s created like this: “If you have a vision for change in your communities or our world (or maybe you just know that a different reality is possible) and you want to show up, contribute, serve or generally live the kind of life that leaves this planet better than you found it – you’re in the right place.” And we think that’s the perfect description that sums up what you can expect. Do you want to unlearn systems of oppression from the inside out? Or want to be co-creating the better world with us? You’re in the right place.
Follow for: reminders to unlearn and to show up.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDRwIqpn_J8/
8. @mikaelaloach
Mikaela’s Instagram account may look—at first glance—like a typical social media influencer’s. But she’s a lot more than what it seems. A freelance writer about all things sustainability, ethical living, refugee rights and intersectional activism, Mikaela’s words pack a punch, and then some. If you follow her, expect daily insights into low-waste living and climate activism—and how to make these movements more accessible. (Because surprise, surprise: most of the time they’re not.)
Follow for: critical insights and hard-hitting truths about sustainability and inclusivity.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CDB25JaHh_z/
9. @ajabarber
There aren’t very many Instagram accounts like Aja’s. Hers is a highly curated space. In it, she offers her valuable perspectives on sustainable fashion, capitalism and everything in between. With her expertise in race, intersectional feminism and fashion, you’re bound to learn something new. Oh, and she also has a Patreon, and her supporters are treated to her wealth of knowledge. But a lot of her content is already offered for free. Scroll her Instagram to check it out! (If you’re a Karen though, please don’t slide into her DMs.)
Follow for: posts that tell it like it is and refreshingly candid takes on fashion and racism.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCAvR49Jww2/
10. @soyouwanttotalkabout
We’re rounding off this list with one of our favourites. If you’re here to learn and unlearn, you’ll definitely want to give this account a follow. Ever felt overwhelmed by terms that climate and social justice activists throw around? Wanted an easy-to-follow, yet comprehensive explanation? Then chances are you’ll find it here. This platform talks about all kinds of issues, from Marxism to billionaires, from DARVO to apoliticism. There’s something to learn with every new post.
Follow for: daily dissections of progressive politics and social issues in graphic slideshow form.
