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Brand new social network created by Common Weal to launch this weekend

A NEW social network, CommonSocial, will launch this weekend offering users a dedicated space to debate, network and organise around the big issues in Scotland.

Created by Common Weal and part of this website, CommonSpace, CommonSocial will sit side-by-side with the news and original content on CommonSpace, and provide readers and users with all the relevant digital tools to empower action in towns and communities across Scotland.

Political interest and engagement in Scotland flew off the charts during the Scottish independence referendum campaign, and many of the groups which sprung up during that time have continued campaigning and working towards change.

Find out all about CommonSocial and how to use it in our quick video

Some groups are still very much focused on the goal of achieving independence for Scotland, but others have branched out into wider campaigns. The Tie campaign, for example, has been fighting to get LGBT+ education in schools in an effort to help prevent problems with self harm, suicide and mental health problems emerging among young LBTI+ people, while other campaigns have focused on things like land reform, TTIP or fracking.

But it's been difficult for many of these groups to maintain useful contact with each other. Facebook and Twitter aren't really structured to provide the networking necessary for campaigners, and often debate is stifled because the environment just isn't right.

CommonSocial seeks to address that, and to finally give all these active and energetic people across Scotland a digital hub to branch out from.

CommonSocial will open to the public on Saturday 13 July at 12noon. We've spent more than a year building it, and we're delighted to finally be at the finishing line.

That said, CommonSocial will never be finished. It will always be in development, adapting with the times and technology. Common Weal has created the platform, but it is Common Weal funders – you – who made it possible, and CommonSocial has been built entirely with you at the heart of the project.

CommonSocial belongs to you. It is your space, your forum and your opportunity.

We really hope to see you all tomorrow at noon. We expect there will be lots of questions and maybe even some teething trouble for some users, so staff members from Common Weal, including me, will be kicking around CommonSocial all day to guide you through it.

Finally, CommonSocial will work best with lots of people using it, so please share this article on your existing social networks and tell your friends all about it.

This could be something so valuable for Scotland, and together we will make it work.

Register your account on CommonSpace today and make sure you’re ready for the big launch tomorrow. We’ll see you there.

Picture: CommonSpace