The FCC plans to repeal net neutrality protections at a vote on Thursday, handing companies like Verizon, Comcast and AT&T the power to control what websites and apps you use, charge you new fees and engage in outright censorship of online content. Congress provides oversight for the FCC, and they still have the power to stop the vote or overturn it, so Internet users are coming together for 48 hours of protest before the vote, dubbed “Break the Internet.” The idea is to do everything in your power to sound the alarm and get everyone you know to call Congress.
One super epic way to get all your friends and family to pay attention? Change your Facebook relationship status to “Married to Net Neutrality” and then add a link in the comments to BattleForTheNet.com where people can take action. Facebook’s algorithm will make sure *everyone* sees it, and it will really get people talking. If enough of us do this, it could create the type of viral momentum we need to flood Congress with enough calls to stop the FCC and preserve net neutrality.
Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to do it:
1) Go to “About” section of your Facebook page and choose “Family and Relationships” in the left sidebar. Add a relationship status and choose “Married” and hit “Save Changes”.
2) Change your relationship status to “Married,” enter “Net Neutrality” and hit save.
3) After you save, go to your profile and hit “Edit Life Event” on the post. Enter “Married to the free and open Internet” in the “Title” field. Copy this text into the “story” field and hit save:
"I'm married to the free and open Internet! Go to https://www.battleforthenet.com to help defend net neutrality. Change your relationship status to get everyone’s attention. Get involved at https://www.breaktheinternetprotest.org!"
3) To really drive the point home, change your profile pic to one of these and add a link back to BattleForTheNet.com
Don’t stop there! You can add a new “position” on LinkedIn saying your job is “Defending Net Neutrality at BattleForTheNet.com,” put a banner or widget on your blog, Tumblr, or website, or post frequently on Twitter and Instagram. Get everything you need to join the #BreakTheInternet protest here.