Which Social Media Platform Is The Most Cannabis Friendly?
Cannabis may be emerging from the shadows of prohibition in the physical realm, yet it’s a different story in the virtual dimension. The leading social media platforms are yet to get with the times when it comes to weed and continue to make life exceedingly difficult for legal cannabis businesses.
Social Media Vs Cannabis
Social media giants like Facebook and Instagram make no secret of their agenda to purge cannabis content from their platforms. Both sites belong to Mark Zuckerberg’s company Meta, and both make it abundantly clear in their community guidelines that bud is not welcome within the Metaverse.
In 2019, Zuck demonstrated his anti-cannabis algorithm to a room full of journalists, revealing how the system is able to distinguish between images of bud and pictures of broccoli so that the former can be earmarked for a so-called shadow ban. This is when a social media platform restricts the visibility of posts – usually without notifying the user – so that no one can see or interact with them.
For a business, shadow banning can have significant consequences, as it prevents any messages from reaching potential customers. Worse still, Facebook and Instagram regularly delete cannabis-themed pages without warning and without even giving a reason.
The Seedsman Facebook and Instagram pages were both taken down in 2021 with no explanation or possibility to appeal. Our backup Instagram was also removed. We’re constantly shadowbanned and throttled.
Similar stories abound within the cannabis industry, with large numbers of retailers having had their social media pages deactivated despite not breaking any laws.
TikTok is equally oppressive and generally bans any references to cannabis culture. Videos that are tagged with a term associated with weed tend to be removed, while Twitter users have to avoid hashtags containing these words if they want their posts to remain visible.
Having said that, Twitter is generally less hostile than the other big social media platforms and even allows cannabis companies to advertise in countries where recreational sales are legal. The company has also just been purchased by the weed-loving Elon Musk, although whether or not he chooses to make the site more amenable to cannabis businesses remains to be seen.
Though not a social media platform in the same sense as the aforementioned sites, LinkedIn is worthy of mention for its fair approach to weed. The platform is mainly used as a networking tool for industry professionals and doesn’t censor any users who align themselves with cannabis.
By helping to connect cannabis entrepreneurs, growers and investors, LinkedIn has played a role in the industry’s growth and is undoubtedly the most weed-friendly of the big social media networks.
Outside of the mainstream, several cannabis-specific social media sites have popped up, mainly in response to the unfriendly approach of the leading platforms. Among these is WeedLife, which was founded in 2018 as a kind of Facebook for cannabis lovers.
The site acts as an online hangout for cannabis businesses and consumers and allows users to interact and share content regarding all aspects of weed culture. Similarly, GrassCity Forums has become a popular network for pot enthusiasts and is now one of the top sites for engaging with others of similar persuasion.
That the cannabis industry has had to establish its own niche social media networks tells you all you need to know about the mainstream platforms. However, as legalisation spreads through the real world, it’s only a matter of time before we see some online reform. With a bit of luck, sites like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter will one day catch up with life offline and open their doors to cannabis users and businesses.
Despite the daily risk of removal, we’re still trying to cultivate a friendly social media community for collectors across the world. Here’s where you can find us:
Our primary Facebook page is where we release news about promos, discounts and the latest news from Seedsman, It’s also where you can contact us and leave us a review.
Seedsman Community Facebook Group
The Seedsman Community group on Facebook is a private space where cultivators across the world share tips and tricks.
Seedsman Twitter
We’re a bit more cheeky on Twitter, as everyone is. Twitter is similar to our FB in terms of information as well as a way to reach us.
Cannabis Growers Discord
Our Discord channel is a friendly and inclusive space for all! It’s an active and thriving community filled with information for all levels. We have daily games and giveaways, as well as weekly live talks with experts. Beyond that, it’s a great place to meet people with similar interests. All are welcome!
Our new (new new) Instagram account is here, we also have a Spanish Insta as well as one for our Italian community. Ciao!
Cannabis Growers official Reddit
Finally, if you’re a Redditor we’ve got an active and friendly forum on Reddit which is filled with expert advice and insider experience.
Cultivation information, and media is given for those of our clients who live in countries where cannabis cultivation is decriminalised or legal, or to those that operate within a licensed model. We encourage all readers to be aware of their local laws and to ensure they do not break them.
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