On Wednesday, May 9, some of your favorite sites (whether you admit to it or not) will try to throw you for a loop. They'll do it with a huge red banner blocking your access to the website that reads "Red Alert for Net Neutrality." Not only will the banner catch your eye, but it will also distract you from aimlessly clicking through to watch your porn, fight in a subreddit, or otherwise enjoy the internet. At least, that's the goal. Here's what the red alert means and why you should care.

What does the red alert mean?

The red alert is a protest against the FCC's decision to repeal net neutrality. These websites plan to "go red" to raise awareness and support for net neutrality by asking users to fill out a form. The form sends a message to Congress telling senators that you, the user, want them to block the FCC's repeal. Basically, these websites are harnessing their popularity to engage in some internet activism.

Who is participating?

So far, the big names include Pornhub, Reddit, Mozilla, OK Cupid, GitHub, Tumblr, Etsy, BoingBoing, Vimeo, Imgur, and Foursquare. The groups behind the campaign (Demand Progress, Fight for the Future, and Free Press Action Fund) also made the red alert templates free to download for any website wanting to participate, so expect even more to pop up in your daily surfing.

Wait, remind me what net neutrality is?

Net neutrality was protected by an Obama-era mandate that ensures everyone has free and equal access to the internet without interference from giant corporations like Verizon and Time Warner. That means no matter where you live, what internet provider you use, or which website you're visiting, you are entitled to the same access at the same price as everyone else. The FCC, under Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai, repealed net neutrality in December (you might remember the catastrophic "Harlem Shake" incident). It was a massively unpopular move, criticized by tech giants, Democratic politicians, the music industry, and Americans who simply want to use the internet. (John Oliver has been following the issue since 2014 if you want a deeper dive.)

Why is the red alert Wednesday?

The red alert push starts May 9 to lead up to a vote in the Senate to save net neutrality. According to Battleforthenet.com, every senator in the Democratic Congress and Republican senator Susan Collins has pledged to block the repeal, which makes 50 votes. They need just one more to break the tie. On Wednesday, senators will present a petition on the issue, which leads to a vote. The date for the vote has not yet been set, but it is expected to be held in mid-May. If the resolution passes, then activists will turn their attention to the House. Here's where all the senators and congresspeople stand on the issue.

What should I do?

Well, if you're in support of net neutrality, and you should be, then fill out the red alert form and get in contact with Congress. If activism isn't your thing, think of it like this: You are fighting to protect your own access to Pornhub, Reddit, and more.

Sarah Rense Sarah Rense is the Associate Lifestyle Editor at Esquire, where she covers tech, food, drink, home, and more.

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