The Real Tea on DE&I in Social Media: Live from Orlando at Ragan’s Social Media Conference

If you were anywhere near Orlando this spring, you might’ve heard the quiet buzz: the social media industry’s sharpest minds were in town, and they had a lot to say. More than 400 social media professionals gathered for Ragan Communications & PR Daily’s Social Media Conference, but amid the keynotes and case studies, one conversation captured everyone’s attention.

It was the live taping of Creator Tea Talk, hosted by Jayde I. Powell and joined by Nicole Phillip, a session appropriately titled “The Tea on DE&I in Social Media.” And let’s be clear: this wasn’t your typical panel. It was thoughtful, direct, and refreshingly honest—the kind of conversation that doesn’t just inform; it resonates.

Together, Jayde and Nicole offered what many have been thinking, but still, few have said aloud. The quiet rollback of DE&I initiatives has left a visible mark on the social media industry. 

Between the laughter and knowing nods, they unpacked how deprioritizing diversity doesn’t just dull creativity, it fractures trust. At one point, Jayde posed a question that settled over the audience like a challenge:

“How can brands and platforms do a better job of ensuring Black creators receive proper recognition — and, just as importantly, compensation — for the trends they start?”

A hush followed, the kind reserved for truths that can’t be reposted fast enough.

By the end, one thing was sure: DE&I isn’t a fleeting campaign or corporate checkbox. It’s the foundation of meaningful storytelling. And in a world obsessed with algorithms, it was a reminder that authenticity will always be the real currency.

So yes, the weather was warm in Orlando, but inside that room, the tea was positively steaming.