When we talk about brand safety, what we’re really talking about is people. After all, people are at the core of everything we do, whether they’re using our products and services, populating our communities, or coming to work every day to make our brands what they are. 

People tell us what they care about. What matters to them most. They use their voices to impact our businesses and the world around us. And as this movement for conscious consumption continues to grow exponentially, we need to find more ways to support them. 

Yet, brand safety in practice feels anything but personal — an endless problem with layers upon layers of confusion, oversimplifications, and reactive responses. 

But it doesn’t have to be like that. The social media landscape can be a safer place by serving the public conversation and creating an atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable, secure, and confident enough to share their voice. 

And while Twitter’s current mission already recognizes that focusing on people is our priority, we still have work to do. Through our policies, products, and partnerships, we’re already seeing progress happen, and we’ll continue to invest in brand safety to make Twitter a safer place for all. Here’s how we’re doing it.

Starting with policies that lead.

People need accurate information. About COVID-19 vaccines. About elections. About the things that impact so many of us. To achieve that high standard, Twitter is always reviewing its policies against misinformation and has started labelling Tweets that we consider problematic in an effort to encourage the right behavior on the platform. And by having these policies in place — focusing on people and their conversations first — we’re creating an environment that helps keep brands safe from supporting misinformation with their ad dollars.

Delivering products that protect.

As a platform that encourages conversation, how can we enable them to feel safe for all? By continuing to experiment with innovative features like Safety Mode, which temporarily blocks accounts for using potentially harmful language or flooding your Tweet with unwanted replies. So people feel more comfortable and in control of their experience.

Through products such as Twitter Amplify, we give brands more control over what content they associate with via an Amplify Pre-roll publisher criteria, third-party audits of content safety, and the option for blocking or selecting certain publishers or categories. In fact, in recent OpenSlate research, 100% of Amplify videos examined met the Global Alliance For Responsible Media (GARM) brand safety standards. These products not only keep brands safe — they ensure people on Twitter see safer sponsored content, too. And that makes Twitter a safer platform for all.

Partnering with organizations to drive industry-wide change.

Twitter is driving change when it comes to brand safety with key partnerships in the advertising industry, such as IAB and 4A’s and with watchgroup organizations like Digital Trust and Safety Partnership and the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. Through our partnership with the GARM, for example, we have been able to contribute to the creation of the industry-standard Brand Safety Floor and Suitability Framework. And with many more valued partners, we’re learning, collaborating, and taking action that not only makes Twitter more brand-safe but creates a standard for keeping content safe for people, too.

Putting people first can help your brand too.

The right tools and partnerships are super important when creating a safe environment, but brands can also increase consumer confidence when they get out there, engage the community directly, and recognize their voices. 

More than just generating goodwill, it creates a community-wide ‘oh, they get me”-moment. When it comes to interactions on Twitter, those are invaluable. 

Make people comfortable by listening.
Listen closely. Can you hear it? There’s a conversation happening around your brand. Now it’s your turn to acknowledge it and contribute to it. And when you nurture the relationship you have with people on Twitter and give them the space for telling you what’s important to them, it can benefit your brand. That’s the power of engagement. Now, join the conversation.

Already known for spreading goodness on Twitter during the pandemic, Aqua Indonesia (@sehatAQUA) continued to drive positive conversations on Twitter during Ramadan, the most important time of the year. During the holy month, Aqua tapped into the power of conversations by encouraging Indonesians to Tweet their best Ramadan moments and continue spreading kindness.

Build and encourage a confident community.
The superfan. The advocates. The ALL CAPS diehards. There’s a community out there that will support and celebrate your brand when you’re actively helping others feel confident in being themselves. Just as long as those expressions are sincere and authentic, your community will support you as you show up during both bright moments and challenging times. Sure, there may be times in which naysayers and detractors will try to throw you off balance, but the community that loves your brand will have your back and protect you against the toxicity.

Skinsista Thailand (@SkinsistaTH) has been maintaining an open, frank and always-on conversation with the #BeautyTwitter community in Thailand using the hashtag #SSHonestreview. Over time, the brand has cultivated an authentic community where customers share opinions and discover tips and recommendations about Skinsista’s beauty products, all while celebrating their best #BeautyTwitter moments.

Celebrate inclusive voices. 
Authenticity is everything. A mantra so important that brand managers should practically tattoo this on themselves to never forget it. But just as important is inclusivity — bringing diverse communities in and giving them a share of the mic makes us safer and stronger collectively.

A regular advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Globe Philippines (@enjoyGlobe) created a heartfelt film that proudly showcases various loving and accepting father-son relationships. The campaign, launched during Father’s Day, which happened to coincide with Pride Month, featured the accounts of real dads who learned what true pride means – not from their fathers, but from the courage of their own children.

In a country where homophobia is still not uncommon among the older generations, this campaign was a powerful gesture that goes a long way to support those who struggle everyday.

Let’s keep moving forward together.