Channel cheat sheets

Go where people already are.

One card per channel: what organizers use it for, the formats and rhythm that work, what to avoid and what to measure. Platform facts come from our verified platform sheet (checked 26 Oct 2026); the practice comes from the playbooks and the practitioner guides in the library.

Broadcast

WhatsApp ChannelsA daily mission feed for a mass audience in countries where WhatsApp is the default app, without exposing anyone's phone number.
Formats that work
- Mission post: one action, one link, one target
- Voice update from the campaign's voice
- Poll to measure buy-in
- Proof post with the result
- Night wrap-up and tomorrow's goal
Cadence: Three to six missions a day at most, one priority at a time, closing with a short wrap-up at night (the Brazil 2026 rhythm).
Do
Write every mission as call, action, where, when, target, why and proof
Add co-admins (up to 16) and announce a backup channel on another platform from day one
Share the channel link in every group and on your signup page: forwarded posts carry a link back to the channel
Keep your own archive and mission log: updates are deleted from WhatsApp's servers after 30 days
Avoid
Don't block forwards or screenshots on a public mission channel: forwarding is the growth engine
Don't treat it as private: channels are not end-to-end encrypted
Don't use unofficial tools to automate posting or to mass-message people; there is no posting API, and the Business Platform bans political campaigns
Don't launch several missions with equal weight; say which one comes first
What to measure: Track followers, reactions and poll votes per post in the app, and log the real outcome of each mission (views, trending position, clicks on UTM links) in your mission sheet, since there is no export.

First steps
1. Create the channel in Updates with a clear name, description and photo, and make it visible in the directory
2. Add at least one co-admin and open a backup channel on Telegram or Instagram
3. Publish the rules and the first mission, then share the link through your signup page and groups
What it is
One-way broadcast inside WhatsApp's Updates tab. Admins post text, photos, video, voice notes and polls; followers react and vote but cannot reply. Best fit for a daily 'mission' feed in countries where WhatsApp is the default app. This is the core channel of the Brazil 2026 playbook.
Limits
No follower cap published. Up to 16 admins per channel (since Jan 2024).
Privacy
Admin phone numbers and photos are hidden from followers. Followers are not visible to each other or to the admin. Channels are NOT end-to-end encrypted.
Automation
No official API or bot access for posting to Channels. The WhatsApp Business Platform (API) is a different product for 1:1 messages, and its policy bans political parties, politicians, candidates and campaigns.
Analytics available
Basic in-app counts: followers, reaction totals and poll results. No export.
Cost
Free. Optional paid promotion via Promoted Channels where available.
Political use
Organic political channels are allowed. Meta has delivered no political, electoral or social-issue ads in the EU since 6 Oct 2025, so promoting a political channel there is not an option. Outside the EU, Meta's ad authorization rules apply. Brazil's TSE bans mass political messaging without the recipient's consent, and that ban was kept for 2024.
How to set it up
Updates tab → + → New channel → name, description, photo → set 'Visible in directory' → invite with the channel link and pin it in every group.

Useful features
- Admins post text, media, voice updates and polls; followers see total reaction counts, not who reacted
- Forwarded posts carry a link back to the channel, so the channel grows when missions are forwarded into groups
- Searchable directory filtered by country; admins choose whether the channel is listed
- Promoted Channels in the directory and paid channel subscriptions announced Jun 2025; status ads and promoted channels rolled out globally Feb 2026
- Admins can edit posts; updates are deleted from WhatsApp's servers after 30 days
- Admins can block screenshots and forwards (useful for internal channels, harmful for public missions)
- Followers can share channel updates to their own Status
Risks
- Channel content is server-readable (not E2E), so assume authorities can request it
- A single admin phone number is a single point of failure: add co-admins and keep a backup channel on another platform
- Paid promotion is unavailable for EU political actors
- The 30-day server retention means the archive is your responsibility
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram channels · Viber channels · Instagram broadcast channels · LINE Official Account · Kakao Talk Channel · Zalo

Top messaging channel in: AE, AF, AL, AM, AO, AR, AT, AZ, BD, BE, BF, BH, BO, BR, CD, CH, CI, CL, CM, CO, CR, CU, CV, CZ, DE, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GB, GH, GQ, GT, GW, HK, HN, HR, HT, ID, IE, IL, IN, IQ, IT, JO, KE, KG, KW, KZ, LA, LB, LK, LU, LV, MA, ML, MT, MX, MY, MZ, NG, NI, NL, OM, PA, PE, PK, PR, PS, PT, PY, QA, RO, RW, SA, SD, SG, SI, SN, ST, SV, SY, TR, TZ, UG, UY, VE, YE, ZA, ZM, ZW

Used in the playbooks: Brazil 2026
Sources
Instagram broadcast channelsA direct line to your warmest supporters who already follow you on Instagram, outside the crowded feed.
Formats that work
- Behind-the-scenes update
- Poll on the next action
- Voice note from the candidate or spokesperson
- Link to a volunteer shift or event
- Photo or video from the street
Cadence: Post when there is a real ask for your most engaged supporters, and treat it as a direct channel alongside email and text, as the Mamdani campaign did.
Do
Promote it with a Story sticker, a pinned profile link and the one-time notification to followers
Reserve it for the warmest audience: Mamdani's channel grew from 66,000 members in the primary to more than 180,000
Pair it with a keyword comment-to-DM flow that sends the sign-up link and captures email and ZIP code into your own list
Avoid
Don't expect new reach: only people who already follow you will see it
Don't make it your only list: you don't own the members' contacts
Don't pay to promote political content in the EU: unavailable since 6 Oct 2025
What to measure: Watch members and reactions in the app, and above all the clicks and sign-ups each post produces through UTM-tagged links.

First steps
1. Switch to a professional account and create the channel from the Inbox
2. Announce it with a Story sticker and pin the link on your profile
3. Post a first message with one ask and a tracked link
What it is
One-to-many chat from a creator or campaign account to followers inside Instagram DMs. Good for 'inner circle' updates to supporters who already follow you on Instagram.
Limits
No member cap published.
Privacy
Members are known by their Instagram handle, with no phone numbers. Not E2E.
Automation
No API for broadcast channels.
Analytics available
Basic member and reaction counts in-app.
Cost
Free
Political use
Organic political content is allowed. Instagram does not proactively recommend political content from accounts people don't follow, unless the user opts in. Meta said in Jan 2025 it would phase civic content back in with personalized controls. Paid promotion of political content is unavailable in the EU since 6 Oct 2025.
How to set it up
Professional account → Inbox → Create (pencil) → Create broadcast channel → name, audience → share via Story sticker.

Useful features
- Only the creator posts: text, photos, video, voice notes, polls
- Followers react and vote but cannot send messages
- Channels are public: anyone can view one; joining turns on notifications
- Promotion via a Story sticker, a pinned profile link or a one-time notification to followers
- Can be limited to paid subscribers for creators with Subscriptions
Risks
- Reach is limited to people who already follow you
- Access to the feature is account-type dependent
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp Channels · Telegram channels

Used in the playbooks: New York 2025
Sources
Telegram channelsUnlimited-size mission broadcast where Telegram dominates, and the standard backup channel for WhatsApp-first campaigns.
Formats that work
- Mission post, scheduled or silent
- Poll or quiz
- Post with comments through a linked discussion group
- Daily proof and wrap-up
- Update signed with an admin's chosen name
Cadence: The same mission rhythm as your main channel; use scheduled and silent posts so late or low-priority updates don't wake people.
Do
Add co-admins and link a discussion group for comments
Announce it from day one as the backup to your main channel
Use the advanced statistics (from 500 subscribers) to see which posts spread
Use the Bot API for sign-ups and reminders within its limits
Avoid
Don't treat it as private: channels are not end-to-end encrypted, and Telegram may hand IPs and phone numbers to authorities under court order
Don't rely on it where it is blocked (China, Iran, Vietnam) or throttled (Russia)
Don't try to buy political ads on Telegram's Ad Platform: they are banned
Don't message people who never opted in
What to measure: Track views per post (including forwarded copies), shares and subscriber sources in the statistics, plus each mission's outcome in your log.

First steps
1. Create the channel with a public t.me link and add co-admins
2. Link a discussion group and pin the rules
3. Post the link on your signup page and in your main channel
What it is
Unlimited-size one-way broadcast with strong admin tools and an open bot API. The default mission channel where Telegram dominates, and the standard backup for WhatsApp-first campaigns.
Limits
Unlimited subscribers.
Privacy
Subscribers' identities are visible only to admins. Phone numbers are hidden by default. Channels use server-client (cloud) encryption, not E2E. Since Sep 2024 Telegram's policy says it may give IP addresses and phone numbers to authorities under court order for criminal suspects.
Automation
Full Bot API. Bulk sends are limited to about 30 messages/second; paid broadcasts allow up to 1,000/second at 0.1 Stars per extra message, for bots with 100,000+ Stars and 100,000+ monthly active users.
Analytics available
Advanced statistics once a channel has more than 500 subscribers (growth, views, shares, sources).
Cost
Free. Telegram Premium is optional.
Political use
Organic political channels are allowed. Telegram's own Ad Platform bans ads that promote political campaigns, elections, parties, candidates or political movements.
How to set it up
Menu → New Channel → public link (t.me/name) → add co-admins → link a discussion group → pin the rules → post the link everywhere.

Useful features
- Only admins post; posts can be signed with an admin's chosen name without linking to a profile
- Scheduled and silent posts
- View counters per post, including forwarded copies
- Comments via a linked discussion group; admin-selected reactions
- Polls and quizzes; 'Mighty Polls' (Mar 2026) add time limits, hidden results, suggested options, media in answers
- Direct Messages to the channel without exposing personal accounts (Jun 2025); suggested posts from subscribers (Jul 2025)
- Public post search across public channels (Jul 2025, Premium at first)
- Telegram Communities (Jul 2026) bundle channels, groups and bots under one topic
Risks
- Blocked in China, Iran and Vietnam (ordered May 2025); throttled or blocked in Russia; intermittent blocks elsewhere
- Not E2E: treat channel content as public
- Court-ordered data disclosure since Sep 2024
- Hostile channels can mass-forward your content out of context
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp Channels · Viber channels · LINE Official Account · Kakao Talk Channel

Top messaging channel in: BY, ET, IR, KH, RU, UA, UZ
Sources
Viber channelsOne-way mission broadcast in markets where Viber leads.
Formats that work
- Mission post with a link
- Explainer for newcomers, who see the history
- Event announcement
- Proof of results
Cadence: The same rhythm as any mission channel: few posts, one priority each.
Do
Write posts that still make sense later: new members see the message history
Keep a backup channel on another platform
Budget for bots if you need automation: they are commercial only since Feb 2024
Avoid
Don't share knowingly false information or content Viber treats as radicalizing: it is banned
Don't bulk-message or advertise outside Viber's advertising and anti-spam rules
Don't assume channels are encrypted: that isn't documented
What to measure: Channel analytics weren't verified, so log reach and outcomes yourself: members over time and clicks per post through UTM links.

First steps
1. Create the channel from Chats → New → Channel with name, photo and description
2. Post a first explainer of who you are and the rules: newcomers will see it
3. Share the link on your signup page and in your coordination groups
What it is
One-way broadcast inside Viber, for markets where Viber leads.
Limits
Viber markets channels as able to reach 'up to a billion' members.
Privacy
Viber says only channel members can read messages. Viber claims E2E for 1:1 and group chats; E2E for channels is not documented.
Automation
Viber bots can only be created on commercial terms (since 5 Feb 2024).
Analytics available
Not verified.
Cost
Free to create; bots are paid.
Political use
Viber's policy welcomes accurate political discussion but bans knowingly false information, hate speech and content promoting extreme political views that could radicalize. Political groups running ads or bulk messaging must follow the advertising and anti-spam rules.
How to set it up
Viber → Chats → New → Channel → name, photo, description → share link.

Useful features
- Admin-only posting
- New members see message history
- Join by link
Risks
- Paid bots raise automation cost
- Smaller global footprint means a narrower audience outside its core markets
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp Channels · Telegram channels

Top messaging channel in: BA, BG, CY, GR, MD, ME, MK, MM, RS
Sources
LINE Official AccountThe broadcast default in Japan (and, by common use, Taiwan and Thailand), with segmentation, rich menus and an API.
Formats that work
- Broadcast targeted by demographics
- Step messages for new followers
- Rich menu with sign-up, events and donations
- 1:1 chat with auto-responses
Cadence: Plan against your monthly message quota: each message counts once per recipient, so daily missions to a large list get expensive.
Do
Set a greeting message and a rich menu that points to your key actions
Segment broadcasts so each message reaches the people it concerns
Export your data and keep your own list
Avoid
Don't plan daily missions without doing the math: the free plan in Japan allows 200 messages a month
Don't post anything LINE could read as 'adversely affecting public order': suspension is discretionary
Don't ignore national election law on online campaigning
What to measure: Use the dashboard for friends, deliveries and rich menu clicks, and track cost per action taken.

First steps
1. Create the account in LINE Official Account Manager and choose a plan
2. Set the greeting and a rich menu with your three main actions
3. Share the QR code and ID at events and on your signup page
What it is
Business-style broadcast account on LINE with segmentation, rich menus and an API. The broadcast default in Japan, and (by common use) Taiwan and Thailand.
Limits
No follower cap. Japan plans cap the number of messages: free plan 200 messages/month; Light ¥5,000/month for 5,000; Standard ¥15,000/month for 30,000 plus paid extras (up to about ¥3 each).
Privacy
Followers' phone numbers are not shown to the account.
Automation
Messaging API and scheduled broadcasts.
Analytics available
Dashboard for friends, deliveries, rich menu clicks; data export.
Cost
Free tier, then paid by message volume (Japan: ¥0 / ¥5,000 / ¥15,000 per month). A message counts once per recipient.
Political use
The guidelines have no explicit political clause but ban activities that 'adversely affect public order' and anything LINE deems inappropriate, which leaves it to LINE's discretion. National election law governs online campaigning.
How to set it up
Create an account at LINE Official Account Manager → choose plan → set greeting and rich menu → share the QR/ID.

Useful features
- Broadcasts with demographic targeting, step messages, coupons
- Rich menus (a tappable menu at the bottom of the chat)
- 1:1 chat and auto-responses
- Messaging API for bots
Risks
- Per-recipient message pricing makes daily missions expensive at scale
- Discretionary suspension
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp Channels · Telegram channels · Kakao Talk Channel · Zalo

Top messaging channel in: JP, TH, TW
Sources
Kakao Talk ChannelBroadcasting inside KakaoTalk, South Korea's dominant messenger.
Formats that work
- Broadcast to all friends
- Message targeted by group, sex or age
- Scheduled send
- Welcome message and chatbot
Cadence: Every message is paid (15–20 KRW), so send fewer, more targeted messages and schedule them.
Do
Set a welcome message and a chatbot that route people to actions
Get the verified badge through business verification if you are eligible
Check Korean election law before any campaign use
Avoid
Don't send untargeted daily blasts without costing them
Don't assume political use is allowed: Kakao's rules on parties and candidates weren't verified
Don't collect more personal data than you need
What to measure: Use the message reports in Partner Center and track cost per click or sign-up.

First steps
1. Create the channel in Kakao Business with a name, search ID and category
2. Make it public and searchable and write the welcome message
3. Schedule your first targeted message
What it is
The broadcast account inside KakaoTalk, South Korea's dominant messenger.
Limits
No friend cap verified.
Privacy
Friends' phone numbers are not shown.
Automation
Scheduling in Partner Center; chatbot builder.
Analytics available
Message reports in Partner Center.
Cost
Free to create. Messages are paid: 15 KRW per general message, 20 KRW per targeted message (VAT excluded).
Political use
Not verified in Kakao's channel docs. Korean election law strictly regulates online campaigning.
How to set it up
Kakao Business → create channel (name, search ID, category) → submit business info or run as a general channel → set public and searchable → welcome message.

Useful features
- Broadcast to all friends or targeted by group, sex or age
- Scheduled sends
- Welcome message, chatbot, channel home page
- Business verification for a trusted badge
Risks
- Per-message cost
- Account review needed for verified badge
Equivalents elsewhere: LINE Official Account · WhatsApp Channels · Telegram channels
Sources
- Kakao Business Guide: Creating a Kakao Talk Channel
- Kakao Business Guide: Channel messages and pricing
Zalo (Official Account and groups)Organization broadcast and CRM in Vietnam, where Zalo is the dominant messenger, with strong legal caution.
Formats that work
- Articles and video posts
- Chatbot menu
- Messages to OA-managed groups
- Two-way replies to people who engaged
Cadence: Publish articles at a steady pace and reply within the 48-hour window; messages outside it are quota-based on paid tiers.
Do
Submit verification documents within 14 days of creating the Official Account
Use MiniCRM and role-based staff access
Assess legal risk with a lawyer before any political content
Avoid
Don't use it for independent political organizing: OA policy bans content that opposes the State or the Party, and the legal risk is high
Don't share unverified information: it is banned
Don't expect privacy: encryption is not verified
What to measure: Use the dashboards and reports to track followers, message reach and replies.

First steps
1. Create the Official Account at oa.zalo.me and submit the verification documents
2. Choose a tier and set up the chatbot menu
3. Publish a first article explaining who you are
What it is
Vietnam's dominant messenger. Official Accounts (OA) give businesses and organizations broadcast, CRM and group tools.
Limits
OA-managed groups (GMF) are sold by size: 10, 50, 100 or 1,000 members.
Privacy
Not verified.
Automation
Developer portal and system integrations (API).
Analytics available
Dashboards and reports.
Cost
Basic tier free; paid tiers 1,000,000 to 6,000,000 VND/year; 55 VND per extra consultation message.
Political use
OA policy bans content that opposes the State or the Communist Party of Vietnam, 'reactionary' content and unverified information. Independent political organizing is legally high-risk in Vietnam.
How to set it up
oa.zalo.me → create OA → submit verification documents within 14 days → choose tier → publish content.

Useful features
- Two-way messaging with people who engaged the OA; consultation messages outside the 48-hour window are quota-based on paid tiers
- Articles and video posts, chatbot menus, MiniCRM, role-based staff access
- Group fees: GMF-1000 costs 300,000 VND/month; OA messages to groups are free until 31 Dec 2026
Risks
- State-aligned content rules and legal exposure for organizers
- Business verification documents required within 14 days of creating an OA
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp Channels · LINE Official Account · Telegram channels

Top messaging channel in: VN
Sources
WeChat (Official Accounts and groups)Reaching Chinese-diaspora audiences through Official Accounts; not for organizing inside mainland China.
Formats that work
- Official Account article
- Group chat for a diaspora community
- Mini Program for a service
Cadence: Steady article publishing on the Official Account; frequency limits were not verified.
Do
Treat everything as monitored
Keep content factual and in the community's language
Offer a separate, safer channel for anything sensitive
Avoid
Don't use it for pro-democracy organizing: content is censored
Don't put contacts in China at risk
Don't make it your only channel: accounts are banned without explanation
What to measure: Use the Official Account dashboard for reads and followers, and count the sign-ups that moved off WeChat.

First steps
1. Register at mp.weixin.qq.com and choose the account type
2. Verify the account
3. Set up a safer channel (email, Signal) for anything sensitive before you publish
What it is
China's super-app. Official Accounts (服务号 service accounts / 公众号 public accounts) broadcast articles; groups coordinate. Relevant for Chinese-diaspora outreach, not for organizing inside mainland China.
Limits
Not verified (group size and broadcast frequency limits).
Privacy
Citizen Lab (2020) found that files and images exchanged only between non-China-registered accounts were scanned to build China's censorship index.
Automation
Official Account APIs.
Analytics available
Official Account dashboard.
Cost
Free to register; verification fees may apply.
Political use
Content is subject to Chinese censorship. Not suitable for pro-democracy organizing.
How to set it up
mp.weixin.qq.com → register (choose account type) → verify → publish. Treat everything as monitored.

Useful features
- Service accounts for organizations, public accounts for media and individuals
- Mini Programs
- Group chats
Risks
- Surveillance and censorship, including of foreign accounts
- Account bans without explanation
- Risk to contacts in China
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram channels · WhatsApp Channels

Top messaging channel in: CN, MO
Sources
- WeChat Official Accounts Platform
- Citizen Lab: We Chat, They Watch (May 2020)

Groups and coordination

WhatsApp groupsSmall cells and local squads that turn the central mission into action in a neighborhood, shift, school or workplace.
Formats that work
- Local coordination: who, where, when
- Re-share of the day's mission from the channel
- Poll with an end time for logistics
- Event reminder
- Quick report-back with a photo
Cadence: Follow the mission rhythm of your broadcast channel, plus real-time messages during shifts and actions; keep off-topic chatter low so alerts stand out.
Do
One group per shift, neighborhood or team, with trusted admins and pinned rules
Turn on admin approval and share invite links only through your signup flow
Use a separate number for public-facing groups: members see each other's numbers
Use polls with an end time for quick logistical decisions
Avoid
Don't add people who didn't ask to join, and don't mass-message: it is spam under WhatsApp's rules and, in Brazil, breaks the TSE consent rule
Don't automate personal accounts with third-party tools: numbers get banned
Don't post anything you couldn't live with seeing leaked; infiltration and screenshots happen
Don't use a group for mass reach: the cap is about 1,024 members (check in-app), so use a channel
What to measure: Measure actions, not messages: how many members confirmed and completed each task (shift filled, people at the meeting point), logged per group in a shared sheet.

First steps
1. Create the group with a few trusted people and turn on admin approval
2. Pin a short message with the group's purpose, rules and who moderates
3. Name a backup admin and a backup group on another app
What it is
Many-to-many chat for cells, teams and local squads. Members re-share missions from the channel and coordinate action here.
Limits
Up to 1,024 members per group, per WhatsApp's Help Center as quoted by a third-party guide in 2026.
Privacy
Messages are end-to-end encrypted. Members' phone numbers are visible to other members. Usernames, which hide your number when you first contact someone, were announced Jun 2026 and are rolling out gradually; it is not confirmed that they hide numbers inside groups.
Automation
No official API for regular groups. Third-party automation of personal accounts breaks WhatsApp's terms and gets numbers banned.
Analytics available
None beyond poll counts.
Cost
Free
Political use
Organic political use is allowed. Unsolicited bulk adding of people and mass messaging are spam under WhatsApp's rules and, in Brazil, under the TSE's consent rule.
How to set it up
Chats → New group → add a few trusted people → Group settings: admin approval on, 'Send messages' as needed → share the invite link only through your signup flow.

Useful features
- Admin-only posting mode for announcement-style groups
- Polls with an end time that locks voting, hidden voter names, and question edits within 15 minutes (Aug 2026)
- @all mention; in groups of more than 32 people only admins can use it
- Member tags (self-chosen roles) and event reminders (Jan 2026)
- Invite links and QR codes; admins can approve join requests
- Messages that have been forwarded many times can only be forwarded to one chat at a time
Risks
- Phone numbers are exposed to every member: use a separate number for public-facing groups
- Infiltration and screenshots: anything posted can leak
- Number bans after spam reports
- Forwarding friction slows viral spread of missions
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram groups · Signal · Viber Communities · LINE OpenChat · KakaoTalk Open Chat · Messenger

Top messaging channel in: AE, AF, AL, AM, AO, AR, AT, AZ, BD, BE, BF, BH, BO, BR, CD, CH, CI, CL, CM, CO, CR, CU, CV, CZ, DE, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GB, GH, GQ, GT, GW, HK, HN, HR, HT, ID, IE, IL, IN, IQ, IT, JO, KE, KG, KW, KZ, LA, LB, LK, LU, LV, MA, ML, MT, MX, MY, MZ, NG, NI, NL, OM, PA, PE, PK, PR, PS, PT, PY, QA, RO, RW, SA, SD, SG, SI, SN, ST, SV, SY, TR, TZ, UG, UY, VE, YE, ZA, ZM, ZW

Used in the playbooks: Kenya 2024 New York 2025 Poland 2023 Senegal 2024 Serbia 2026 Ireland 2018
Sources
WhatsApp CommunitiesLinking many local or thematic groups under one announcement group, for an organized core of volunteers rather than the mass audience.
Formats that work
- Announcement from the admins to every member
- Linked groups by city, theme or team
- Events and polls in the linked groups
- Toolkit drop: ready-to-share audio, video and graphics
Cadence: Announcements only when there is a real ask or update for everyone; day-to-day traffic belongs in the linked groups.
Do
Use a Channel for mass reach and the Community for the organized core: its member cap is far below a channel's
Recruit from your email list and ask members to invite their own contacts, as Italian activists did in 2026 (library guide)
Run a live training call, with a recorded tutorial, before the big push
Share the admin load: one admin team controls all subgroups, so losing an account is costly
Avoid
Don't promise hidden numbers everywhere: they are visible inside any linked group a member joins
Don't use it to message strangers; the strength is people writing to people they know
Don't expect the app to prove impact: there are no analytics
What to measure: Count members, active linked groups and completed actions (shares, contacts messaged, events held), reported back by group leads.

First steps
1. Create the community with a name and description and link two or three existing groups
2. Post the first announcement with one clear ask
3. Check the current caps in the app before you plan the structure
What it is
An umbrella that links several groups under one announcement group. Fits a structure of a central command with many local or thematic groups.
Limits
Per the Help Center as quoted by a 2026 third-party guide: up to 100 groups per community and up to 2,000 members counted across all of them. Older figures (50 groups / 5,000 announcement members) still circulate, so check in-app.
Privacy
End-to-end encrypted. Community admins can message the announcement group without members seeing each other's numbers in it, but numbers are visible inside any linked group you join.
Automation
No API.
Analytics available
None.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same as WhatsApp groups. No paid amplification.
How to set it up
Communities tab → New community → name and description → add existing groups or create new ones → share the community invite link.

Useful features
- Announcement group where only admins post, reaching every member
- Admins add or create linked groups; members can browse and join them
- Same E2E encryption and poll, event and @all features as groups
Risks
- The member cap is far below a channel's, so use a Channel for mass reach and Communities for the organized core
- A single admin team controls all subgroups, so account loss is costly
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram groups · Viber Communities · Discord · Facebook Groups

Top messaging channel in: AE, AF, AL, AM, AO, AR, AT, AZ, BD, BE, BF, BH, BO, BR, CD, CH, CI, CL, CM, CO, CR, CU, CV, CZ, DE, DO, DZ, EC, EE, EG, ES, FI, FR, GB, GH, GQ, GT, GW, HK, HN, HR, HT, ID, IE, IL, IN, IQ, IT, JO, KE, KG, KW, KZ, LA, LB, LK, LU, LV, MA, ML, MT, MX, MY, MZ, NG, NI, NL, OM, PA, PE, PK, PR, PS, PT, PY, QA, RO, RW, SA, SD, SG, SI, SN, ST, SV, SY, TR, TZ, UG, UY, VE, YE, ZA, ZM, ZW
Sources
- Kanal: WhatsApp Community vs Group: limits (2026; cites WhatsApp Help Center)
- WhatsApp Blog: Your group chats upgraded: better polls, @all (4 Aug 2026)
Messenger (groups and Communities)Group coordination where Facebook, not WhatsApp, is the main social graph, with members known by profile instead of phone number.
Formats that work
- Topic chats inside a Messenger Community
- Group chat for a local team
- Page inbox replies to people who write in
- QR code invite at events
Cadence: Work at the pace of your local teams, and check the Page inbox every day during the campaign.
Do
Use Communities to bundle topic chats without needing a Facebook Group
Set Page auto-replies that send people who write in to your signup page
Keep a second channel for organizers: a suspension spills over to Facebook and Instagram
Avoid
Don't send bulk unsolicited messages from a Page: Meta's rules forbid it
Don't assume community chats are encrypted: only personal 1:1 chats are end-to-end by default
Don't plan political click-to-Messenger ads in the EU: Meta has delivered none since 6 Oct 2025
What to measure: For a Page, use inbox insights and count how many people who wrote in signed up; for groups, count tasks completed.

First steps
1. Create a Community from Chats → Communities and add one chat per topic
2. Set an auto-reply on your Page that points to your signup page
3. Share the community QR code at your next event
What it is
Group chat tied to Facebook identity. Messenger Communities (Oct 2024) bundle several topic chats without needing a Facebook Group. Useful where Facebook, not WhatsApp, is the main social graph.
Limits
Not published for Communities. Group chat size was not verified.
Privacy
Personal 1:1 chats are E2E by default. Community chats are not documented as E2E. Members are identified by Facebook profile, not phone number.
Automation
Pages can use the Messenger Platform (bots, auto-replies) under Meta's messaging rules. Bulk unsolicited messaging is not allowed.
Analytics available
Page inbox insights for Pages. None for personal groups.
Cost
Free
Political use
Organic political use is allowed. Meta political ads are unavailable in the EU since 6 Oct 2025, including click-to-Messenger ads with political content.
How to set it up
Messenger → New chat (group), or Chats → Communities → Create → add topic chats → share the QR code.

Useful features
- Messenger Communities: several topic chats in one community, moderation tools, invites via Facebook friends or a QR code
- Personal chats and calls are end-to-end encrypted by default (rollout from Dec 2023)
- Page inbox automation for organizations via Meta's Messenger Platform
Risks
- Real-name Facebook identity exposes organizers
- Account suspensions spill over to Facebook and Instagram
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp groups · WhatsApp Communities · Facebook Groups

Top messaging channel in: AU, DK, GE, HU, IS, LT, LY, MN, NO, NP, NZ, PH, PL, SE, SK, TL, TN
Sources
Facebook GroupsLasting local chapters and neighborhood forums where Facebook is still central, especially for older audiences.
Formats that work
- Local issue post with a photo of a familiar place
- Event with RSVP
- Poll
- Toolkit file
- Volunteer recruitment post
Cadence: A steady presence: listen first, then post when you have a local fact, a win or an event, and reply calmly, because many silent readers watch the exchange.
Do
Start private, with membership questions and admin approval of members and posts
Go hyperlocal: recognizable streets, local issues, concrete wins (Campaign Lab guide)
Let residents and local voices speak: they persuade better than the candidate
In existing neighborhood groups, follow their rules and stick to civic issues where party content is banned
Avoid
Don't make a group public without thinking: posts become visible to anyone, and Meta's AI search can surface them
Don't argue or use sarcasm in the comments
Don't spam other people's groups with campaign links
What to measure: Use Group Insights for growth and engagement, and count how many members came to an event or took on a task.

First steps
1. Create a private group with a clear local name, rules and membership questions
2. Post the first event or local issue with a photo
3. Map the existing neighborhood groups and read their rules before posting
What it is
Persistent forum-style groups with posts, comments, events and files. Strong for local chapters in countries where Facebook is still central.
Limits
No member cap published.
Privacy
Real-name profiles. In public groups, posts are visible to anyone, including people without Facebook accounts; after conversion only admins see the member list.
Automation
No official Groups API for posting (removed by Meta earlier). Admin tools are manual.
Analytics available
Group Insights for admins (growth, engagement).
Cost
Free
Political use
Organic use is allowed. Meta began phasing civic content back into feeds with personalized controls in 2025. Political ads are unavailable in the EU since 6 Oct 2025.
How to set it up
Facebook → Groups → Create → name, privacy (start private) → membership questions → rules → invite.

Useful features
- Public or private groups; private groups can be converted to public after a 3-day admin review window (Nov 2025)
- Anonymous posting and nicknames where admins enable them
- Events, polls, files, admin approval of members and posts, membership questions
- Forum app (US, Sep 2026): AI 'Ask' surfaces answers from group posts, including public groups you haven't joined
Risks
- Public groups and AI search surface member posts to strangers
- Mass-reporting can get groups restricted
- Real identity exposure
Equivalents elsewhere: Discord · Telegram groups · WhatsApp Communities · VK

Used in the playbooks: United States 2016–2020 Brazil 2026 Poland 2023 Ireland 2018
Sources
Telegram groupsLarge volunteer hubs and regional coordination with topics, bots and phone numbers hidden by default.
Formats that work
- Topic threads by city or task
- Poll with a time limit
- Onboarding message from a bot
- Logistics alert: routes, meeting points
Cadence: Real time during actions; between them, keep each topic focused and use slow mode in busy rooms.
Do
Turn on Topics to split one group into threads by city or task
Require join approval and add an anti-spam moderation bot
Set admin permissions carefully and name backup admins
Debunk fake routes and rumors only through trusted channels, as Kenyan organizers did
Avoid
Don't share sensitive plans here: group chats are cloud chats, not end-to-end encrypted
Don't leave large public groups open: spam and raids follow
Don't use a group to steer fan pages or anonymous accounts that hide who is behind them; the AfD playbook shows where that leads
What to measure: Track active members, completed tasks per topic and how fast alerts get answered; large groups also get group statistics.

First steps
1. Create the group, enable Topics and require approval to join
2. Add a moderation bot and pin the rules
3. Open one topic per city or working group and name a lead for each
What it is
Large many-to-many chats with topics and bots. Fits regional hubs and volunteer coordination at scale.
Limits
Up to 200,000 members per group.
Privacy
Phone numbers hidden by default (contacts only). Group chats are cloud chats, not E2E. Only 1:1 secret chats are E2E.
Automation
Bot API; bots can post at most 20 messages per minute in a group.
Analytics available
Group statistics for large groups.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same as Telegram channels.
How to set it up
New Group → add members → make it public or private → enable Topics → add a moderation bot → set permissions.

Useful features
- Topics (forum mode) to split one group into threads
- Rich polls and quizzes (time limits, revoting rules, visible votes)
- Bots for moderation, onboarding and logging; bots can send messages visible only to one person (Jul 2026)
- Member tags (Mar 2026); group ownership transfer (Feb 2026)
- Join links with admin approval; slow mode; admin permissions
Risks
- Not E2E
- Spam and raid risk in large public groups: require approval and use anti-spam bots
- Country blocks as for channels
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp groups · Signal · Discord · Viber Communities · LINE OpenChat

Top messaging channel in: BY, ET, IR, KH, RU, UA, UZ

Used in the playbooks: Kenya 2024 Serbia 2026
Sources
Viber CommunitiesLarge volunteer hubs with admin roles and hidden phone numbers where Viber dominates.
Formats that work
- Coordination by working group or neighborhood
- Agenda proposals ahead of assemblies
- Logistics updates
- Hidden-number private chats between members
Cadence: Real time for logistics; gather agenda proposals ahead of each meeting.
Do
Set member permissions: who can post, delete messages and ban
Use it to collect agenda items and organize shifts, as Serbian students did
Appoint superadmins and backup admins
Avoid
Don't post anything you wouldn't want an infiltrator to read: newcomers see the whole history
Don't assume encryption: the status of Communities wasn't verified
Don't plan on bots without a budget: they are commercial only
What to measure: Track members, proposals collected and tasks filled per working group in your own sheet.

First steps
1. Create the community and set who can post
2. Write the rules as the first message
3. Share the invite link only through your signup flow
What it is
Large group chats with admin roles and hidden numbers. Good for volunteer hubs where Viber dominates.
Limits
Unlimited members (Viber's claim).
Privacy
All community members' phone numbers are hidden.
Automation
Bots are commercial only (since Feb 2024).
Analytics available
Not verified.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same Viber acceptable-use rules as channels.
How to set it up
Viber → New → Community → name → set member permissions → share invite link.

Useful features
- Superadmins and admins; admins decide whether members can post, delete messages, ban users
- New members see chat history
- Invite links
- Hidden-number private chats between members
Risks
- Open history means newcomers (including infiltrators) can read the past
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram groups · WhatsApp Communities · Discord

Top messaging channel in: BA, BG, CY, GR, MD, ME, MK, MM, RS

Used in the playbooks: Serbia 2026
Sources
LINE OpenChatTopic-based public group chats in LINE that people can join without being friends.
Formats that work
- Room per issue or region
- Room rules in the notes
- Q&A
- Event coordination
Cadence: Steady moderation matters more than frequent posting; review join requests and rules regularly.
Do
Write the room rules in the notes and turn on approval-based joining
Pick the right category and age group so the room shows up in the directory
Appoint several moderators
Avoid
Don't underestimate moderation: separate profiles per room make it harder
Don't plan around a member cap or automation: neither was verified
Don't ask for or share personal data in rooms
What to measure: Track joins, active members and how many moved on to your official account or signup page.

First steps
1. Create a room from Home → OpenChat with a category and rules
2. Turn on join approval
3. Link the room from your LINE Official Account
What it is
Topic-based public group chats in LINE, joinable without being friends. Used for interest communities in Japan.
Limits
Not verified. The directory lists rooms with 100,000+ members.
Privacy
Rooms let members use a different profile, so no LINE friend link is required.
Automation
Not verified.
Analytics available
Not verified.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same LINE policies; room rules set by admins.
How to set it up
LINE → Home → OpenChat → Create → category, rules, join approval → share link.

Useful features
- Searchable directory by category and age group
- Room rules ('notes'), approval-based joining, removal of members
- Separate profile per room
Risks
- Anonymous profiles make moderation harder
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram groups · KakaoTalk Open Chat · Discord

Top messaging channel in: JP, TH, TW
Sources
- LINE OpenChat: directory (Japan)
- LINE Official Account guidelines
KakaoTalk Open ChatAnonymous-profile group chats in KakaoTalk for interest communities and volunteer rooms.
Formats that work
- Volunteer room joined by link
- Topic room found by search
- Event coordination
Cadence: Keep each room to one purpose and moderate it daily during active periods.
Do
Set the name and profile rules when you create the room
Keep one room per purpose
Check caps and rules in the app: Kakao's help pages couldn't be verified
Avoid
Don't treat anonymous members as verified supporters
Don't share personal data or sensitive plans
Don't build on features that weren't verified
What to measure: Count joins and how many members moved on to your channel or signup page.

First steps
1. Create an Open Chat from Chats → + → Open Chat
2. Write the rules in the first message
3. Share the link only where your audience already is
What it is
Anonymous-profile group chats in KakaoTalk, joinable by link or search.
Limits
Not verified.
Privacy
Anonymous profiles per room.
Automation
Not verified.
Analytics available
Not verified.
Cost
Free
Political use
Not verified.
How to set it up
KakaoTalk → Chats → + → Open Chat → set name, profile rules → share link.

Useful features
- Join by link or search
- Anonymous profiles
Risks
- Kakao's help center could not be read automatically; verify caps and rules in-app
Equivalents elsewhere: LINE OpenChat · Telegram groups
Sources
- Kakao Business Guide: Creating a Kakao Talk Channel
DiscordStructured deliberation, volunteer onboarding and working groups for your most active core, not for mass mobilization.
Formats that work
- Town hall on a Stage channel
- Read-only announcements channel
- Poll with a deadline
- One channel per event with meeting points
- Forum channel for proposals
Cadence: Keep it alive with regular events and activities, plus a short monthly voice orientation for newcomers (ECDA guide).
Do
Start with few channels: welcome and rules, announcements, intros and roles, events, help
Use onboarding questions and a verification step, and hide channels newcomers can't use yet
Give admin rights only to the owner and one or two trusted people
Publish total votes next to percentages and say who moderates
Avoid
Don't use it to reach the masses or persuade non-supporters
Don't hold sensitive legal or strategy talks here: messages are not end-to-end encrypted
Don't call a poll an election: one account, one vote doesn't stop multiple accounts (Nepal)
Don't add untrusted bots
What to measure: Track active members, onboarding completion and decisions logged with vote totals; use Server Insights if available.

First steps
1. Create the server from the Community template, with volunteer and coordinator roles
2. Set onboarding questions and channels for #missions and #report-back, plus a stage
3. Send an expiring invite link to your signup list
What it is
Server-based community with text channels, voice and stage rooms, roles and bots. The best tool for structured deliberation, volunteer onboarding and working groups.
Limits
Not verified for 2026.
Privacy
Usernames, not phone numbers. Messages are not E2E (voice/video calls were moving to E2E; not re-verified). Global age assurance is delayed to H2 2026: >90% of users will not need to verify, but unverified users cannot reach age-restricted content or change teen-safety defaults. Already live in the UK and Australia; Brazil's Digital ECA took effect 17 Mar 2026.
Automation
Bots and webhooks via the Discord developer platform.
Analytics available
Server Insights for community servers (not re-verified).
Cost
Free; Nitro and server boosts optional.
Political use
No ads platform for political actors. Server owners set their own rules on top of the Community Guidelines.
How to set it up
Create server → use the Community template → roles (volunteer, coordinator) → onboarding questions → #missions, #report-back, stage channel → invite link with expiry.

Useful features
- Channels by topic, roles and permissions, threads, forum channels
- Voice channels and Stage channels for town halls
- Polls, events, onboarding questions
- Many bots available for logging missions and roles
Risks
- Blocked in Russia
- Age-assurance friction may stop some volunteers joining age-gated spaces
- A past breach at a third-party support vendor exposed user data
Equivalents elsewhere: Telegram groups · Facebook Groups · WhatsApp Communities · Viber Communities

Used in the playbooks: Nepal 2025
Sources

Short video

Instagram ReelsShort vertical video that can travel beyond your followers: explainers, candidate-to-camera pieces and supporter-made clips.
Formats that work
- Street interview where people speak first
- Explainer with the source on screen
- Candidate to camera, phone in hand
- Collab post with a creator
- Volunteer footage from a shift
Cadence: Steady and fast rather than polished: record today, publish tomorrow, and test new formats instead of repeating one hit.
Do
Add captions: most people watch muted
Use Trial reels to test new formats on non-followers before sharing with followers
End every video with one off-screen action, such as commenting a keyword to get the sign-up link
Keep one simple message and change the format, not the message
Avoid
Don't count on non-follower reach for political content: Instagram doesn't recommend it unless users opt in
Don't boost political Reels in the EU; elsewhere you need Meta authorization and a disclaimer
Don't over-produce: keep the street sound and the phone-in-hand feel
Don't buy followers or join engagement pods to game the algorithm
What to measure: Use Insights for reach, plays, shares, saves and follows, and judge each Reel by the sign-ups or keyword comments it produced.

First steps
1. Switch to a professional account and caption every Reel
2. Film three short pieces in real places this week, each ending in one ask
3. Run one as a Trial reel and compare it with your usual format
What it is
Short vertical video with algorithmic reach to non-followers. Use it for explainer clips, candidate-to-camera pieces and supporter-made content.
Limits
No audience cap. Reels length was not re-verified for 2026 (widely reported as up to 3 minutes).
Privacy
Public by default for professional accounts.
Automation
Scheduling and publishing via the Instagram Graph API and Meta Business Suite for professional accounts.
Analytics available
Insights for professional accounts: reach, plays, shares, saves, follows.
Cost
Free. Paid boosts are subject to political ad rules.
Political use
Political content is not proactively recommended to non-followers unless users opt in. Political ads are unavailable in the EU since 6 Oct 2025; elsewhere they need Meta authorization and a disclaimer. Since Jan 2025 Meta has used Community Notes instead of third-party fact-checking in the US.
How to set it up
Professional account → + → Reel → record or upload → add captions (most watch muted) → share; use Trial for new formats.

Useful features
- Algorithmic distribution to non-followers
- Trial reels: test with non-followers first and auto-share to followers if they perform well within 72 hours
- Collab posts, remixes and AI translation/dubbing in some markets
Risks
- Political content may be ineligible for recommendations, which caps non-follower reach
- Account restrictions after mass reports
Equivalents elsewhere: TikTok · YouTube Shorts · Kwai

Used in the playbooks: Brazil 2026 Kenya 2024 New York 2025 Poland 2023
Sources
TikTok (video and LIVE)Organic reach to non-followers, especially under-35s, with short native video and LIVE Q&As.
Formats that work
- 15–60-second explainer: one clause or one issue per video
- Street interview
- Trend or sound, when it fits
- Behind the scenes
- Duet or stitch answering a claim
Cadence: Post 3–5 native vertical videos a week and never go quiet for weeks: silence is deadly for organic reach (ECDA guide).
Do
Hook viewers in the first seconds and always add captions
Film on a phone in natural light, and trust the young creatives on your team
Pin your explainer videos
Give independent creators facts and access, not scripts
Avoid
Don't plan on paid reach: political ads, Promote, branded political content and paid creator endorsements are all banned
Don't post unverified claims about an unfolding election: they are ineligible for For You
Don't use fake accounts, bought views or coordinated repost networks; the AfD playbook shows how they work and why they are a risk
Don't over-produce or force trends that feel 'cringe'
What to measure: Use creator analytics for views, watch time and audience, and judge each video by how many watch to the end and the actions it drove off-screen.

First steps
1. Create the account and choose the right account type (political accounts are labelled)
2. Film three explainers on your main issue, each ending in one ask
3. Turn on comment keyword filters and pin your best explainer
What it is
Algorithm-first short video. Strongest organic reach to non-followers, especially under-35s. LIVE for real-time Q&A.
Limits
No follower cap. LIVE eligibility thresholds not verified (an 18+ age rule and a follower minimum are commonly reported).
Privacy
Public by default.
Automation
Content Posting API for approved apps (not re-verified); scheduling in TikTok Studio desktop.
Analytics available
Creator analytics (views, watch time, audience).
Cost
Free
Political use
Paid political ads, Promote, branded political content and paid creator endorsements are all banned. Political accounts (politicians, parties, campaigns) cannot advertise, and fundraising by politicians or parties is prohibited. Unverified claims about an unfolding election are ineligible for the For You feed. Organic political content is allowed.
How to set it up
Create account → switch to the right account type (political accounts are labelled) → post 3–5 native vertical videos a week → pin explainer videos.

Useful features
- For You feed distributes to non-followers
- Duets, stitches, sounds
- LIVE with multi-guest
- Comment moderation and keyword filters
Risks
- No paid amplification at all for political actors
- In the US the app now runs under the TikTok USDS Joint Venture (Jan 2026), whose revised privacy policy allows precise location tracking
- Mass-reporting and shadow restrictions on political accounts
Equivalents elsewhere: Instagram Reels · YouTube Shorts · Kwai · Snapchat

Used in the playbooks: Brazil 2026 Kenya 2024 New York 2025 Nepal 2025 Poland 2023 Senegal 2024 Serbia 2026
Sources
YouTube ShortsShort vertical video with search and long-term discoverability, linked to your long videos and live streams.
Formats that work
- Speech or debate clip with bold on-screen text
- Explainer of up to 3 minutes
- Teaser linking to a long video or live
- Message recorded by a supporter
Cadence: Cut clips from every long video or live, post them regularly, and test variations of the same moment to keep what works.
Do
Title with the words people search for
Link each Short to a related long video or live stream
Test several cuts of the same speech and keep the ones that perform (ECDA guide)
Avoid
Don't trust view counts alone: since 31 Mar 2025 every start or replay counts as a view
Don't plan political ads in the EU or Brazil: Google doesn't serve them there
Don't post election misinformation: YouTube bans it
What to measure: In YouTube Studio, track watch time and conversions (clicks to sign up) rather than views.

First steps
1. In the YouTube app, tap + → Short and record a clip of up to 3 minutes
2. Write a keyword title and link it to a related long video
3. Cut three versions of your best moment and compare watch time
What it is
Short vertical video inside YouTube with search and long-term discoverability.
Limits
Shorts can be up to 3 minutes.
Privacy
Public by default.
Automation
YouTube Data API for uploads and scheduling.
Analytics available
YouTube Studio analytics.
Cost
Free
Political use
Google stopped serving political ads in the EU from Sep 2025 (election-official exemptions only) and prohibits political-electoral ads in Brazil. Elsewhere election ads need Google verification and 'Paid for by' disclosures. YouTube bans certain elections misinformation.
How to set it up
YouTube app → + → Short → record up to 3 min → title with keywords → link to a related long video.

Useful features
- Shorts camera with multi-segment recording
- Since 31 Mar 2025, a view counts each time a Short starts or replays
- Links to long videos and live streams; live streams also appear in the Shorts feed
Risks
- Shorts views inflated by the new counting rule: track watch time and conversions instead
Equivalents elsewhere: TikTok · Instagram Reels · Kwai

Used in the playbooks: New York 2025 Poland 2023
Sources
KwaiA TikTok alternative for lower-income and smaller-city audiences, notably in Brazil.
Formats that work
- Native vertical video
- Supporter's own version of the day's video
- Short explainer
Cadence: Carry the daily video missions you run on other short-video apps, published natively here.
Do
Post native vertical videos made for the app
Ask supporters to record their own version: own content beats reposts (Janonismo)
Check the Ads Library for opponents' paid content
Avoid
Don't assume the rules match TikTok's: Kwai's political-ad rules weren't found
Don't plan on unverified market-share claims
Don't use bought views or fake profiles
What to measure: Track views and comments per video and the clicks to your channel or signup page.

First steps
1. Install Kwai and create a profile
2. Post the day's video natively
3. Open the Ads Library and log opponents' paid content
What it is
Short-video app with a strong base in Brazil and parts of Latin America and the Middle East (by common reporting). Use it as a TikTok alternative for lower-income, smaller-city audiences.
Limits
Not verified.
Privacy
Not verified.
Automation
Not verified.
Analytics available
Creator analytics (not verified).
Cost
Free
Political use
Kwai's Legal and Safety Center lists Community Guidelines and an Ads Library. No separate political-ads policy was found on its legal hub.
How to set it up
Install Kwai → create profile → post native vertical videos → check the Ads Library for opponents' paid content.

Useful features
- Short video feed
- Creator marketplace for brands
- Public Ads Library
Risks
- Thin public policy documentation
Equivalents elsewhere: TikTok · Instagram Reels · YouTube Shorts

Used in the playbooks: Brazil 2026
Sources
- Kwai: Legal and Safety Center
SnapchatReaching teens and young adults through Stories and Spotlight, with disclosed political ads where allowed.
Formats that work
- Public Story from events
- Spotlight short video
- Political ad with a 'Paid for by' line
Cadence: Post Stories around events and key dates, and archive everything, since content is ephemeral by default.
Do
Set up a public profile
Archive your own content
For ads, pass the political review and show a 'Paid for by' line
Avoid
Don't run ads paid by non-residents of the target country: they are banned
Don't assume political ads are available in the EU: the status after the TTPA wasn't verified
Don't use it as your archive
What to measure: Use public profile insights and, for ads, Ads Manager results plus your entry in the Political Ads Library.

First steps
1. Create a public profile
2. Post a Spotlight from your next event
3. Read Snap's political ads policy before planning any ad
What it is
Camera and messaging app strong with teens and young adults. Public Stories and Spotlight give some reach; ads allow political advertising with disclosure.
Limits
Not verified.
Privacy
Messages are ephemeral by default.
Automation
Marketing API for ads (not re-verified).
Analytics available
Public profile insights; Ads Manager.
Cost
Free; ads paid
Political use
Snap accepts election and issue ads (since 2019 policy) with a 'Paid for by' line, case-by-case review and a public library. Ads paid by non-residents of the target country are banned. The EU status after the TTPA was not verified.
How to set it up
Create a public profile → post to Spotlight/Stories → for ads, set up Snap Ads Manager and pass political review.

Useful features
- Stories, Spotlight short video, public profiles
- Political ads with a 'Paid for by' disclosure and a public Political Ads Library
Risks
- Ephemeral by default: archive your own content
- Unverified EU stance on political ads
Equivalents elsewhere: TikTok · Instagram Reels
Sources
- Snap: Political & advocacy ads policy

Live and audio

Instagram LiveLive Q&As, rally streams and going live together with a supporter or creator on Instagram.
Formats that work
- Q&A with questions from comments
- Live with a guest
- Rally or event stream
- Replay shared afterwards
Cadence: Tie lives to moments that matter (a debate, a vote, a launch) and announce each one in Stories beforehand.
Do
Announce the live in Stories beforehand
Bring a guest: a supporter, a local voice or a creator
Put a moderator on the comments throughout
Share the replay and clip the best moments
Avoid
Don't build your plan on it with a new or small account: follower thresholds may block you (check in-app)
Don't go live without a moderator: the comment load is real
Don't pay to amplify political content in the EU
What to measure: Note peak viewers and comments, then count the actions taken afterwards through the link you shared.

First steps
1. Check in-app whether your account can go Live
2. Pick a date tied to a campaign moment and invite a guest
3. Announce it in Stories and prepare three questions to open with
What it is
Livestream to followers with guests. Use it for Q&As, rally streams and 'go live together' with supporters.
Limits
Eligibility thresholds not verified (a 1,000-follower, public-account requirement was reported in 2025).
Privacy
Public to followers. Comment moderation is available.
Automation
No scheduling via API verified.
Analytics available
Peak viewers, comments.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same organic rules as Instagram. No paid amplification of political content in the EU.
How to set it up
Professional account → + → Live → title → invite a guest → go live; announce in Stories beforehand.

Useful features
- Live with guests
- Comments and questions
- Replays can be shared
Risks
- Follower thresholds may block small or new campaign accounts
- Live moderation load
Equivalents elsewhere: Facebook Live · YouTube Live · TikTok
Sources
- Instagram: Continuing our approach to political content on Instagram and Threads (9 Feb 2024, notes 2025)
- Meta: Ending political, electoral and social issue advertising in the EU (Jul 2025, updated Oct 2025)
Facebook LiveLivestreams from a Page for audiences that still sit on Facebook, including long talks and Q&As with the leader.
Formats that work
- Live Q&A
- Long address from the leader
- Unedited stream of a meeting or rally
- Mirror of a debate held elsewhere
Cadence: Around key moments and announced in advance; Senegal's movement used Facebook lives for the leader's voice and for Q&As.
Do
Download every live within 30 days: since Feb 2025 they are deleted after that
Clip the best moments into Reels to keep them
Use streaming software such as OBS when you need graphics or several cameras
Film meetings unedited for people who couldn't come
Avoid
Don't treat Facebook as your archive
Don't plan to boost political lives in the EU: unavailable since 6 Oct 2025
Don't stream without someone moderating the comments
What to measure: Track peak viewers and minutes viewed in Page insights, and the sign-ups or donations that followed.

First steps
1. Test a short stream from your Page with a limited audience
2. Schedule your first live around a campaign moment and announce it
3. Set a reminder to download each live and clip it into Reels
What it is
Livestream from a Page or profile. Still useful where older audiences sit on Facebook.
Limits
Not verified.
Privacy
Public or audience-limited.
Automation
Live API for streaming software (e.g. OBS) via stream keys.
Analytics available
Page insights for live: peak viewers, minutes viewed.
Cost
Free
Political use
Organic political streams are allowed. Boosting political lives is unavailable in the EU since 6 Oct 2025.
How to set it up
Page → Live video → connect camera or streaming software → title → go live → download within 30 days.

Useful features
- Live from Page or profile, comments, shares
- Since 19 Feb 2025, new live videos stay available for replay, download or share for 30 days only, then are deleted
- Clip moments into Reels to keep them past 30 days
Risks
- Automatic deletion after 30 days: download every live for your archive and fact-check log
Equivalents elsewhere: YouTube Live · Instagram Live · TikTok

Used in the playbooks: Nepal 2025 Senegal 2024
Sources
- Meta: Updating our Facebook Live video storage policy (18 Feb 2025)
- Meta: Ending political, electoral and social issue advertising in the EU (Jul 2025, updated Oct 2025)
YouTube LiveLong-form livestreams that stay archived and searchable: debates, rallies, assemblies and explainers.
Formats that work
- Scheduled town hall or Q&A
- Mirror of an assembly or a Discord stage
- Rally stream, horizontal and vertical at once
- Streamed count of an open poll
Cadence: Schedule streams for key moments and post the link in your broadcast channels ahead of time.
Do
Verify the channel by phone well before you need it
Stream horizontal and vertical at once so the vertical version shows in the Shorts feed
Moderate the live chat and keep the replay on your channel
Mirror internal debates for people outside the server, as Nepal's movement did
Avoid
Don't break the rules: a live restriction blocks streaming for 14 days
Don't evade a restriction with another channel: that is banned
Don't leave setup to the last day: you must be 16+, with a verified channel and no live restrictions in the past 90 days
What to measure: Use live and post-stream analytics in YouTube Studio, and count sign-ups from the link in the description.

First steps
1. Verify the channel by phone
2. Schedule a first stream in YouTube Studio → Create → Go live
3. Post the stream link in your channels and on your channel page
What it is
Livestreams that stay archived and searchable. The best long-form live option for debates, rallies and explainers.
Limits
Each channel can run 10 active streams (3 per stream key).
Privacy
Public, unlisted or private streams.
Automation
YouTube Live Streaming API; scheduling.
Analytics available
Live and post-stream analytics in YouTube Studio.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same Google ad rules as Shorts. Elections misinformation policies apply to streams.
How to set it up
Verify the channel by phone → YouTube Studio → Create → Go live → schedule → add the stream link to your channel and broadcast feeds.

Useful features
- Simultaneous horizontal and vertical streams; vertical version shows in the Shorts feed
- Super Chat, memberships, gifts where eligible
- Live chat moderation, scheduled streams
Risks
- A live restriction blocks streaming for 14 days, and using another channel to evade it is banned
- Must be 16+, with a verified channel and no live restrictions in the past 90 days
Equivalents elsewhere: Facebook Live · Instagram Live · X Spaces · TikTok

Used in the playbooks: Nepal 2025
Sources
X SpacesLive audio town halls, evening strategy sessions and rapid-response briefings with journalists.
Formats that work
- Evening strategy debate
- Q&A with experts
- Briefing for journalists
- Community Space for members
Cadence: Kenyan organizers held strategy Spaces in the evening; schedule yours and share the link 24 hours ahead.
Do
Schedule the Space and share the link 24 hours ahead
Add co-hosts to manage speakers (up to 13 at once)
Record your own copy and publish a summary afterwards
Host from the mobile app: hosting isn't available on the web
Avoid
Don't let it run without moderation
Don't leave the only recording to the platform: audio gets clipped out of context
Don't expect paid boosts in the EU or Brazil
What to measure: Note listener counts and, more usefully, how many of the actions announced in the Space were done afterwards.

First steps
1. In the X mobile app, tap + → Spaces and schedule one
2. Invite two co-hosts and prepare the agenda
3. Share the link 24 hours ahead and set up your own recording
What it is
Live audio rooms on X. Good for town halls and rapid-response briefings with journalists.
Limits
Up to 13 people can speak at once (host + 2 co-hosts + speakers). Listener cap not stated.
Privacy
Public rooms. Listeners' handles may be visible.
Automation
Spaces lookups are billed via the X API ($0.005 per resource).
Analytics available
Basic listener counts.
Cost
Free
Political use
Same X rules. No paid boost in the EU or Brazil.
How to set it up
X mobile app → + → Spaces → name → schedule → add co-hosts → share the link 24 h ahead.

Useful features
- Anyone can host from the iOS or Android app (not web)
- Schedule for later
- Community Spaces created by Community admins, with an optional recording toggle
Risks
- Audio is easily clipped out of context: record your own copy
Equivalents elsewhere: Discord · YouTube Live · Instagram Live

Used in the playbooks: Kenya 2024
Sources
- X Help: Spaces
- X Developer Docs: X API pricing (pay-per-use)

Social feeds

ThreadsRapid response and reaching journalists who left X, building on your Instagram audience.
Formats that work
- Short rapid-response post with a source
- Thread explaining a proposal
- Replies to journalists and allies
- Post in a topic Community
Cadence: Post in step with the news and your rapid-response rota; a steady presence matters more than volume.
Do
Log in with Instagram and import your followers: growth depends on them because political recommendations are off by default
Join the Communities where your issue is discussed
Use the official API for scheduling and keyword monitoring if you need it
Keep the same message you use everywhere else
Avoid
Don't expect political posts to reach beyond your followers
Don't pay for political promotion in the EU
Don't make it your only text channel: regulators have shut it down (Türkiye, 2024–2026)
What to measure: Use Insights to track replies, reposts and follows from journalists and allies, plus clicks to your signup page.

First steps
1. Open Threads with your Instagram account and import followers
2. Follow the journalists and allies who cover your issue
3. Post your first rapid-response piece with a link to the source
What it is
Text-first public conversation network linked to Instagram, with 500 million monthly users (Jun 2026). Use it for rapid response and reaching journalists who left X.
Limits
No follower cap.
Privacy
Public profile tied to Instagram identity.
Automation
Official Threads API: publishing (single and carousel), reply moderation, insights, mentions, webhooks, keyword search.
Analytics available
Insights via the app and API.
Cost
Free
Political use
Threads does not proactively recommend political content from accounts you don't follow unless you opt in. Meta political ads are unavailable in the EU since 6 Oct 2025.
How to set it up
Install Threads → log in with Instagram → import followers → set up API access in Meta for Developers if you need scheduling or monitoring.

Useful features
- Communities with custom like emoji, flair and Community Champions; out of beta Jun 2026, 200+ topics
- Live Chats around big events, hosted only by selected creators (Apr 2026)
- 'Your Algo' topic controls (some markets)
- Federates some content with the fediverse
Risks
- Political recommendations are off by default, so growth relies on followers and Instagram crossover
- Regulatory shutdowns happen: Threads was offline in Türkiye from 29 Apr 2024 to 17 Jun 2026 after a competition-authority order
Equivalents elsewhere: X · Bluesky
Sources
VK (VKontakte)Research and monitoring of Russian-speaking audiences, with great care; not recommended for opposition organizing.
Formats that work
- Monitoring of public communities
- Watching VK Video for narratives
- Archiving public posts as evidence
Cadence: Only as part of a monitoring routine, from a separate device and identity.
Do
Use a separate device and identity for monitoring
Archive what you find with dates and links
Point Russian-speaking supporters to safer channels
Avoid
Don't organize opposition activity here: users face Russian law enforcement
Don't ask people in Russia to search for 'extremist' content or to advertise VPNs: a 2025 law fines it
Don't monitor from your personal account
What to measure: If you monitor, log the narratives and accounts observed each week; don't chase reach.

First steps
1. Decide whether you need VK at all; usually you don't
2. If you monitor, set up a separate device and identity
3. Create a log sheet for what you observe
What it is
Russia's largest social network: communities, public pages, events and VK Video. Relevant only for reaching Russian-speaking audiences, with great care.
Limits
Group chats of 2 to 500 people. Community size uncapped (not verified).
Privacy
Controlled since Dec 2021 by Gazprombank/Sogaz-linked owners. The Max messenger from VK must integrate with SORM (state surveillance).
Automation
VK API (developer site blocked automated reading here).
Analytics available
Community statistics.
Cost
Free
Political use
Opposition organizing on VK exposes users to Russian law enforcement. A 2025 law fines searching for 'extremist' content and advertising VPNs.
How to set it up
Not recommended for opposition organizing. For research or monitoring, use a separate device and identity.

Useful features
- Communities, public pages, events
- VK Video (overtook YouTube in Russian web traffic in Dec 2024)
- Group chats
Risks
- Surveillance and prosecution risk
- Banned in Ukraine since 2017; restricted in Latvia since 2022
- Reportedly removed from Google Play in Jul 2026 after EU sanctions on its parent (secondary source)
Equivalents elsewhere: Facebook Groups · Telegram channels
Sources
X (formerly Twitter)Rapid response, monitoring and reaching journalists and political elites; less useful for mass mobilization.
Formats that work
- Hashtag that fixes a date or demand
- Rapid-response post with a source
- Thread for journalists
- Community around a topic
Cadence: Watch it in shifts during key moments (TV, debates), post when there is news, and push one main hashtag at a time.
Do
Use hashtags to fix dates and carry a crisis to the international press, as Kenya and Senegal did
Monitor trending topics during debates and TV
Answer attacks with humor and your own agenda, not with denials
When you launch several hashtags, say which one is the priority
Avoid
Don't reply to the opponent, not even to debunk: interacting gives them reach (Janonismo)
Don't use bots, sockpuppets or coordinated fake accounts to push trends
Don't plan political ads in the EU or Brazil: neither is on X's lists
Don't automate link posts carelessly: through the API a link post costs about 13 times a plain one
What to measure: Track hours in trending topics and mentions by journalists; post analytics cover the rest.

First steps
1. Verify phone and email on the account
2. Make a monitoring sheet of journalists, allies and opponents to watch
3. Agree on one main hashtag for your next big moment
What it is
Real-time public conversation with journalists and political elites. Still useful for rapid response and monitoring, less for mass mobilization.
Limits
No follower cap.
Privacy
Public by default.
Automation
Pay-per-use API (no tiers): $0.015 per post created, $0.20 per post containing a URL, $0.005 per post read; capped at 3 million post reads per month.
Analytics available
Post analytics (some features require Premium).
Cost
Free to use; API pay-per-use; Premium optional.
Political use
Political content ads are allowed only in listed countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, UK, US). Campaigning ads need pre-certification and are limited to 14 countries. No EU country or Brazil is on either list.
How to set it up
Create account → verify phone/email → join or create a Community → set up API credits only if you need monitoring automation.

Useful features
- Communities: posts visible to anyone on X; admins need a public account at least 6 months old with verified email or phone
- Community moderators can hide posts, remove members, restrict non-member replies
- Community Notes
Risks
- Blocked in Brazil from 30 Aug to 8 Oct 2024 after defying court orders
- Link posts via API cost about 13x a plain post
- Harassment and impersonation exposure
Equivalents elsewhere: Threads · Bluesky

Used in the playbooks: Barcelona 2015 Brazil 2026 Kenya 2024 New York 2025 Senegal 2024 Serbia 2026 Ireland 2018
Sources
BlueskyAn open X alternative popular with progressive and academic audiences, with free, automatable monitoring.
Formats that work
- Starter pack of your movement's accounts
- Custom feed for your issue
- Rapid-response post
- Announcement that travels to other platforms
Cadence: Post the same content you publish elsewhere, at your usual rhythm.
Do
Set your domain as your handle so people know it's you
Build a starter pack (up to 150 accounts and 3 feeds) and share it
Use the free open API for monitoring
Ask for campaign verification where it applies (US 2026 midterms)
Avoid
Don't use DMs for sensitive talk: they are not end-to-end encrypted
Don't impersonate campaigns or spread false voting information: it is banned
Don't count on it as your main reach channel
What to measure: There are no native analytics: track follows, reposts and clicks through UTM links or third-party tools on the open API.

First steps
1. Sign up at bsky.app and set your domain as your handle
2. Build a starter pack of your movement's accounts
3. Share the pack link in your other channels
What it is
Open, decentralized microblogging network (AT Protocol) with 43 million+ users (Mar 2026). Popular with progressive and academic audiences; useful as an X alternative and for open, automatable monitoring.
Limits
No follower cap.
Privacy
Posts are public. DMs launched in 2024 without E2E encryption or group DMs.
Automation
Open API at no cost. Per-account write limits: 5,000 points/hour and 35,000/day (a post costs 3 points, about 1,666 posts/hour).
Analytics available
No native analytics; third-party tools use the open API.
Cost
Free
Political use
No ad platform. Guidelines ban voter suppression, impersonating campaigns or election officials, and false voting information.
How to set it up
Sign up at bsky.app → set your domain as handle → build a starter pack of your movement's accounts → share the pack link.

Useful features
- Starter packs: share up to 150 accounts and 3 custom feeds via link/QR
- Custom feeds and composable moderation (labelers)
- Verification badges and Trusted Verifiers (Apr 2025); domain handles
- Election rules for the 2026 US midterms: labels on unverified claims and premature victory claims; dedicated verification process for campaigns
Risks
- Blocked in Mississippi since Aug 2025 rather than run mandatory age checks; age assurance in the UK
- Service outages (Apr 2026)
- DMs not E2E
Equivalents elsewhere: X · Threads

Used in the playbooks: New York 2025
Sources

Direct contact

SMS (incl. peer-to-peer texting)Reaching every phone without an app: reminders, shift confirmations and person-to-person conversations with people who opted in.
Formats that work
- Peer-to-peer text from a named volunteer
- Event or shift reminder
- Voting-day reminder for people who made a plan
- Fallback alert during an internet shutdown
Cadence: Few, well-timed messages: a reminder before the event, a thank-you with the result after it, and a voting-day reminder for people who asked for one.
Do
Text only people who opted in
Sign every message with a real name and include opt-out instructions (STOP)
Use peer-to-peer tools so volunteers send and answer each message
In the US, register (Campaign Verify and 10DLC) before you send
Avoid
Don't text people who didn't opt in: it breaks the TSE consent rule in Brazil and consent rules in the EU
Don't run recordings or bots in the replies: a real person reads and answers
Don't forward a suspicious text that claims to come from a party; in Poland in 2023 a fake SMS wave was sent, so alert the authorities instead
What to measure: Track delivery, reply and opt-out rates in your provider, plus confirmed shifts or voting plans per message sent.

First steps
1. Add an opt-in box for texts to your signup form
2. Choose a provider and complete registration where required
3. Write a script with the sender's name, one ask and STOP instructions
What it is
Text messages reach every phone without an app, which makes SMS the fallback for older and offline audiences. Peer-to-peer (P2P) texting tools let volunteers send individual texts at scale where the law allows.
Limits
No platform cap; throughput set by carrier registration.
Privacy
Not encrypted. Sender numbers are visible.
Automation
Via providers (CallHub, Scale to Win, Hustle, ThruText, Spoke) and APIs.
Analytics available
Delivery, reply and opt-out rates in the provider.
Cost
Per message: e.g. CallHub $0.019 per SMS segment; Scale to Win 1.5¢ per outbound SMS segment (US rates).
Political use
US: some carriers have required political entities using 10DLC to hold a Campaign Verify token since 2021; from 5 Nov 2025 tokens cover short code and toll-free too. Brazil: the TSE bans political mass messaging without the recipient's consent. EU: consent-based (GDPR/ePrivacy) rules apply. Never text people who didn't opt in.
How to set it up
Collect opt-in numbers via your signup form → pick a provider → register (US: Campaign Verify + 10DLC) → script with clear sender ID and STOP instructions.

Useful features
- Works on any phone
- P2P texting: a volunteer presses send on each message, replies go to a shared inbox
- Opt-out keywords (STOP)
Risks
- Legal exposure for unsolicited texts
- Carrier filtering of unregistered traffic
- Cost scales linearly
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp Channels · Email

Top messaging channel in: CA, US

Used in the playbooks: United States 2016–2020 New York 2025 United States 2008 Senegal 2024 Ireland 2018
Sources
EmailThe broadcast channel you fully own: fundraising, the long-form why behind the missions, and your backup if a platform account falls.
Formats that work
- Welcome series after sign-up
- One-ask email with one link
- Fundraising appeal
- Event invitation segmented by area
- Result and thank-you
Cadence: Write when there is a real ask tied to your calendar: a welcome series at sign-up, then segmented sends by region and interest.
Do
Set SPF, DKIM and DMARC on your own domain
Use double opt-in and one-click unsubscribe
Give every email one clear ask and a link that leads to offline action (Obama 2008)
Segment by region, chosen issues and giving history
Avoid
Don't buy lists: it destroys deliverability and is often illegal
Don't judge by open rates: they are unreliable
Don't let spam complaints climb: Gmail requires bulk senders to stay below 0.3%
What to measure: Track clicks, conversions (sign-ups, donations, RSVPs) and unsubscribes per send, and compare with the M+R Benchmarks.

First steps
1. Set up your domain with SPF, DKIM and DMARC
2. Choose a tool (Action Network, CiviCRM) and build a double opt-in signup
3. Write a short welcome series: who we are, why now, your first task
What it is
The only broadcast channel you fully own. It is the backbone for fundraising, the long-form 'why' behind daily missions, and the backup if a platform account falls.
Limits
None, but deliverability rules apply.
Privacy
Your list, your data: you must handle consent and deletion under local law (e.g. GDPR).
Automation
Full automation via email platforms and APIs.
Analytics available
Opens (unreliable), clicks, conversions, unsubscribes.
Cost
Cheap: e.g. Action Network Movement plan $1.25 per 1,000 emails ($15 monthly minimum); free tools for grassroots starters.
Political use
No platform political ban. Electoral and data-protection law applies.
How to set it up
Own a domain → set SPF, DKIM, DMARC → pick a tool (Action Network, CiviCRM) → double opt-in signup → welcome series.

Useful features
- Segmentation, A/B tests, automated sequences (in tools like Action Network)
- Works across all countries and devices
Risks
- Gmail rules since 1 Feb 2024: SPF or DKIM for all senders; above 5,000 messages/day you need SPF, DKIM, DMARC and one-click unsubscribe, and must keep spam rates below 0.3%
- Bought lists destroy deliverability and are often illegal
Equivalents elsewhere: SMS · WhatsApp Channels · Telegram channels

Used in the playbooks: United States 2016–2020 New York 2025 United States 2008 Ireland 2018
Sources
- Google: Email sender guidelines (Gmail)
- Action Network: plans and pricing

Secure and resilient

Signal (groups)End-to-end encrypted coordination for leadership, security-sensitive teams and anyone at risk.
Formats that work
- Core team group with disappearing messages
- Announcement-only group for coordinators
- Calls limited by admins
- Link or QR invite with admin approval
Cadence: Use it for whatever must stay private; keep public mission traffic on your broadcast channel.
Do
Hide your phone number, turn off being found by number and share a username instead
Turn on disappearing messages in sensitive groups
Enable admin approval for group links and share them privately
Pair it with a broadcast tool: groups cap at 1,000 members and there are no channels
Avoid
Don't assume encryption protects a compromised or seized phone: practise device hygiene
Don't use it for mass outreach
Don't use encrypted groups to keep paid relationships with creators out of view: the Mamdani administration was criticized for exactly that
What to measure: There are no analytics by design, so measure readiness: the share of your core team on Signal with numbers hidden and disappearing messages on.

First steps
1. In Settings → Privacy, set Phone number to Nobody and create a username
2. Create the core team group with admin approval and disappearing messages
3. Write a short device-security checklist using EFF's guide or Security in a Box
What it is
End-to-end encrypted messaging for organizers, security-sensitive teams and leadership. It is not a mass broadcast tool.
Limits
Up to 1,000 members per group.
Privacy
E2E for everything. Signal keeps no record of group memberships, titles or avatars.
Automation
No official bot or broadcast API.
Analytics available
None, by design.
Cost
Free (donation-funded non-profit)
Political use
No ads and no political ads. No algorithmic distribution.
How to set it up
Settings → Privacy → Phone number: Nobody can see / find by number → set a username → New group → enable admin approval → share the link privately.

Useful features
- Admins control who can send messages and start calls (announcement-only groups)
- Join by group link or QR code, with optional admin approval
- Disappearing messages
- Usernames: phone numbers hidden by default; you can turn off being found by number (Feb 2024)
Risks
- The 1,000-member cap and no channels mean you must pair it with a broadcast tool
- Compromised phones still leak messages: use disappearing messages and device hygiene
Equivalents elsewhere: WhatsApp groups · Telegram groups

Used in the playbooks: Kenya 2024 New York 2025
Sources
- Signal Support: Group chats
- Signal Blog: Phone number privacy and usernames (20 Feb 2024)

Platform facts checked against their sources on 26 October 2026.

Channel cheat sheets

Broadcast

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

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Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

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Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Groups and coordination

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features

Risks

Formats that work

Do

Avoid

First steps

Useful features