The establishment of ‘UFOTwitter’ as an alternative to Ufology

THE INITIAL CONCEPT of using the platform of Twitter was conceptualised in late 2018, however not officially labelled until mid-2019 as ‘TwitterUFO’ by Keith Mayoh (UAPinfo, The Unidentified) with his now famous banner, this was then changed to ‘UFOTwitter’. The theory behind this platform was based around the idea that ‘Ufology’ could be stripped back to the core, leaving only the more credible data that can be absorbed by any non-ufo person who has never been exposed to the issue previously. In essence, we were creating a social media platform in which credible journalists, high ranking individuals from government, media personalities and the public could not only be part of and gather information from, but also occasionally input into. We took UFO from hidden Facebook groups, reformed it to UAP and placed it onto Twitter, into the public sphere.

To be able to achieve this, the data in question would need to be strictly ‘UAP terminology’ and focused around the verified and sourced military cases of both Nimitz (2004) and Roosevelt (2014/15), taking that information, creating the idea of a whole case report,  and ensuring that it remains relevant and accessible to mainstream journalists who were interested. From this, those journalists were able to build up those UAP cases in their own communities and so on. Other more credible data from Ufology was also part of the conversation as time progressed.

The need to have UAP blogs became imperative to the initiative, by which this UAP information could be upheld, sustained and pushed into mainstream. When the Pentagon provided misinformation about AATIP, the platform of UFOTwitter provided information that contradicted those false claims. Historically, UAPinfo was the first type of this new design. After it ended in late 2018, member Danny Silva established SilvaRecord whilst others created The Unidentified, a friendly competition ignited and pushed the issue forward. In recent years, UFOTwitter has been filled with this format of blog design, all UAP influenced, with data which can be pulled from, by onlooking mainstream journalism. It became self sustaining.

UFOTwitter was successful, it overtook other social media platforms for a specific reason, that it had direct access to billions of active users, and most importantly, because people of influence have access to that platform (we only need to see how former President Trump used Twitter to become President leading up to 2016). From 1990’s rap superstar MC Hammer to Senior National Correspondent for Politico, journalist Bryan Bender, the platform has brought in some high profile people from various backgrounds who understand the importance of UAP.

Additionally, the platform is not an echo chamber. Contrast against unknown UFO Internet forums, Reddit or Facebook for example, when most of ‘Ufology’ was housed in private Facebook groups or obscure Reddit threads up until 2018. So, moving ‘Ufology’ to Twitter was essential, rebranding from UFO to UAP terminology was essential, and finally, the creation of UFOTwitter, an accessible platform that allowed everyday people to become involved was extremely essential.

Various issues surrounding UFOTwitter

One of the benefits of using the anonymity function of Twitter has also brought in a significant problem. Firstly, the past three years have brought multiple anonymous troll accounts, with active attempts to ‘dox’ myself and other team members. Some have used graphic pornography, others have used derogatory homophobia and transphobia in attempts to cause unrest. Unfortunately, some have utilised the fractures within UFOTwitter and used them to play members against each other. For example, TTSA was a source of concern for various people which was exacerbated by certain troll accounts, similar with the AATIP situation and also the Mr. Elizondo situation. These same type of accounts would regurgitate and use the same tactics over and over. Some we believed to be disgruntled ufologists, some pseudo sceptical journalists and some were seemingly more sinister in nature. Highlighting these accounts was imperative, stopping their methodology and effectiveness.

Another issue faced was the defamation of UAP credibility by various pseudo journalists, who specifically interfered within the initiative as if they had an agenda. Again, without going into details, awareness was raised and a ‘surround and isolate’ tactic was applied to any such attempts.

The main issue facing the UFOTwitter progression of the initiative was mainstream Ufology itself. Guru figures which influenced over a hundred thousand people across Twitter, spread false claims. Such individuals were spreading disinformation into the field, sewing seeds of conspiracy and distrust in government, rather than working to bring about open transparency from within the system. Being able to counteract such opinions with more rational, objectively sourced points of conversation was sought from within UFOTwitter.

Another, more pressing issue to consider is the role of the pseudo sceptic, the debunker who looks to actively dismantle UAP data. As you already know, this comes from the ‘grey area’, the lacking of supporting  information surrounding a case that such individuals take advantage of in their question to disprove what they believe the opposition stance is (the extraterrestrial hypothesis). Essentially, disproving the ETH drives them forward in their attempts to disprove, rather than the search for truth, which at this point should remain ‘Unidentified’ given all available data in the public sphere.

Other points to consider. The political sphere which unfortunately has overlapped recently in UFOTwitter, keeping separate personal beliefs and political opinion has become a deterrent for progression and unity. Such disruption across UFOTwitter stops meaningful conversation, ideas and the establishment of initiatives. Such efforts to elaborate the effects of political fallout upon the initiative remain ongoing.

Turning Researchers into Activists (Advocates)

UFOTwitter still suffers from some lasting Ufology traits which can be deemed as unhelpful to UAP advocation. The issue of stigma induced apathy is the biggest most single problem we have faced.

There is a ‘learnt helplessness’ that has been instilled within Ufology.

The very concept of UAP activism is stigmatised, unwarranted and frowned upon, with only the self appointed ‘UFO Guru’ able to sell disclosure to the people through ‘insider’ contacts. No initiatives are promoted, no exposure of data pushed and no engagement of their followers to pursue government themselves. The concept of ‘extraterrestrial event disclosure’ is the only accepted goal. This was a major problem we faced and significantly hindered our ability to engage ‘researchers’ and turn them into activists or advocates of responsible disclosure. This amendment  comes through time, patience and rebuilding the ideology of the individuals self efficacy. The recent establishment of UAPTF and the engagement of media has vastly excelled this process. We have found that people tend to become engaged in a cause when they believe there is a chance the goal is achievable. In the last six months to a year, the interest has increased rapidly within UFOTwitter. The 🚫 symbol has become a symbol of this initiative.

EndUAPSecrecy Campaign and UAPMedia

The creation of both UAPMedia and EndUAPSecrecy coincide with UAP activism. They are developed from within UFOTwitter, which have a unique advantage over previous historical initiatives. Firstly, we have installed UAP terminology, which basically is a language that both media and political persons within government can absorb. Extraditing anything ‘alien’, ‘ extraterrestrial’ or ‘conspiracy’ was a big part of our own initiative as we formed the #EndUAPSecrecy social media campaign. In theory, should these hypothetical origin concepts be indeed correct, future investigation by official government programs should reveal this in time. Possibly, following congressional hearings.

Secondly, we now have AATIP and the case reports of Nimitz and Roosevelt. Despite only having testimony of six pilots, a few senators and three grainy videos, it has become enough to aid us to engaging most exposed people into awareness (although not focus). On this point, I understand the benefit of engaging ‘awareness’ rather than ‘focus’, and the strategy involved. With the former we may control societal perceptions, but with the latter the control of such parameters may slip. Storming Area 51 or any government facility is arguably a result of a poor desired outcome.

Again, let me advocate that I am for ‘responsible disclosure’ which plays into the ‘process model’ rather than the ‘event model’ with relation to disclosure.

EndUAPSecrecy aims to be a process model initiative, we wish to bring awareness to the issue in a way which engages people responsibly. Slow stream exposure is key. However, we also believe that additional well placed UAP data is also needed to progress.

EndUAPSecrecy uses specific tactics within social media to attain the goal of credible awareness. Without divulging details on methodologies, it is important to create an atmosphere within social media, specifically focusing on journalists of influence, media personalities of influence and others who will recite such UAP terminology. For example, one of our promotional UAP videos made an appearance on the Joe Rogan Show with Tim Poole, shown on two YouTube videos that reached 3.6 million and then 6.7 million respectively, Rogan’s team found the video posted on the comments section of a CNN Twitter article on UAP that @UAP1949 posted and then it was shown on his show. Multiple videos over 2019, 2020 have been posted to Elon Musk’s Twitter feed (and 41 million followers) that almost total half a million views, the highest reaching over 112k views. EndUAPSecrecy continually posts UAP promotional videos across social media platforms.

For more information visit www.enduapsecrecy.com or follow @EndUAPSecrecy on social media.