Gender-based violence:
A National Challenge
How can PR professionals
use the power of social media to make a positive impact on Gender-Based Violence?
Raising Awareness:
- PR professionals can use social media to raise
awareness about
gender-based violence, its consequences, and ways to prevent it. They can
also use social media to educate people about consent, healthy
relationships, and the meaning of harassment.
Empowering Survivors:
- PR professionals can use social media to provide an opportunity for survivors of gender-based violence to share their stories and experiences. This can help break the silence and stigma surrounding the issue and ultimately lead to better support and resources for survivors.
Create a sense of community:
- Social media can create a sense of community and activism. PR professionals can use social media to develop a sense of community by bringing together people passionate about fighting gender-based violence. This can lead to grassroots movements and campaigns to raise awareness and hold perpetrators accountable.
Access to resources:
- PR professionals can use social media to provide survivors with resources and support such as helplines, counseling services, and legal advice. For example, they can provide victims of gender-based violence with the Suicidal Crisis Line or Rape Crisis.
How can the use of social media have a
negative impact when addressing Gender-Based Violence (GBV)?
Ø
Social media can allow the spread
of harmful
content and messages
that perpetrate GBV, causing further harm to victims and survivors.
Ø
Social
media can be flooded with fake news and misleading information that can be
harmful and unhelpful in addressing GBV (Maria, 2022).
Best ways that PR professionals can use social media to resolve Gender-Based violence issues.
Twitter:
PR
professionals can use hashtags to promote awareness and accountability for GBV.
For example, popular hashtags for GBV include #EndGBV, #SayHerName, and #TimesUp.
Twitter is the most suitable platform to reach a
large audience because, in 2022, it is estimated to have nine million users,
over 80% of whom are aged between 15 and 44 years. As of 2023, Twitter had
around 450 million monthly active users (Bengu, 2022).
Facebook:
Facebook groups are a great way for members to
share information and support one another. For example, there are groups like
Say No to Violence Against Women and Stop Gender-Based Violence: A National
Campaign (Meji, 2022).
TikTok:
This platform is used to create short videos that
promote awareness and positive behaviour change. PR professionals can use this
platform to challenge harmful attitudes and behaviours towards GBV.
Social media has the power to change people’s perspectives about social issues such as GBV. However social media alone may not be effective in addressing gender-based violence as it requires coordinated efforts from different sectors such as government, NGOs, and the community.
#CommonwealthSaysNOMORE
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One of the educational posts, hopefully PR practitioners could implement this in the future
ReplyDeleteThank you. We must also remember that not only PR professionals can reduce behaviors that lead to GBV, however everyone who has social media can use it in a positive way to make a difference .
DeletePersonally I would say is good stating facts about gender-based violence Hance words alone mean nothing but as fellow human being it would be more great to create community engagements for those who have suffered gender-based violence where people who speak really but not hiding on social media or encourage but without action like physical action other than that this is a great start and awareness for the people to says no to GBV
ReplyDeleteIndeed, words alone mean nothing; we need to take action and stop hiding behind our social media posts. I like your suggestion about creating community engagement for the victims of GBV; this will enable people to speak up about their trauma, unlike suppressing their emotions.
Deletesocial media is very powerful
ReplyDeleteit can either break or build...so it is very important on how we utilise it
Indeed we should take we should take into consideration what we post in social media.
DeleteMy eyes were glued to the screen. What a great read. As someone who didn't know much about gender based violence, I can now say I do because you have articulated everything perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Deletewell said social media is real a powerful tool and if used for the better we can change the world
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Deleteutilising social media for gbv is great....but how many times are we going to post #endgbv for gbv to end
ReplyDeletewhen are we taking necessary action seems like all we know us to hide behind social media posts...which can get a million shares..but what difference has it brought IRL???
You have mentioned a crucial point: it is time for us as a country to take actions that can reduce the rate of gender-based violence. That's why PRPs should use their power of storytelling through social media to encourage people to not only speak but also take actions against GBV.
DeleteIndeed PR professionals have the power of story-telling that can reduce actions that lead to GBV, however they must ensure that they use social media in a manner that doesn't further generate violence.
ReplyDeleteIndeed social media is a powerful tool to send messages across the world, because in today's world most people rely on social media to get the news. That's why is very important to be careful on how we use social media.
DeleteYour blog is very nice and impressive. Gender based violence is really an issue that should be attended, it has really destroyed our brothers and sister 's lives
ReplyDeleteThank you.#endGBV
DeleteYour content is very informative and I love how you have aligned everything for us to read it easily, I have learned something from your content and understood more about how Media and PR work together
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI don't not have to say as tis is a well researched blogged, and shows the PR has power to change. Congratulations Phina.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, PR professionals have the power to change attitudes that lead to GBV; however, we must also remember that not only PR professionals have the power to change actions that lead to GBV. But everyone who can read and write and has social media can help reduce the actions that lead to GBV.
DeleteYou have exceptionally explained in detailed the positive impact and negative impact of social media in addressing issues such as GBV. I like the way you have also provided solutions on how PRPs can use social media effectively to reduce actions that lead to GBV.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteMaking GBV an "Us versys Them" - the terms Gender-Based Violence alone sets up the stage, my point is - the entire notion of there being violence based mainly on a person's gender is weird.
ReplyDeleteand its all thanks to social media and the people who perpetuate this narrative. We have violence and much of it is between intimate partners(highest among female-female romantic relationships - see the stats). In many countries its called Domestic violence only in Mzansi do we set men and women up as enemies, and there in lies the reason for some to be confronting while some are defending.
DeleteYou have exceptionally explain in detailed the positive impact and negative impact of social media in addressing issues such as GBV,I like the way you have also provided solutions on how PRPs can use social media effectively to reduce actioslns that lead to GBV
ReplyDeleteAm so glad you chose this topic, gender bases violence is one of the most undestimated topics , people are in the most abusive relationship but chose to stay for different reasons like they scared on what the community will say or for the sake of children, its time to break the silence and teach people!!!
ReplyDeleteYou have critical mentioned important points.
ReplyDeleteIndeed PR professionals and social media can help reduce actions that lead to GBV
Thank you.
DeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteThe voice of the voiceless is through unity and unity of victims brings back the confidence and so does expose awareness to the community to prevent further cases of GBV.
ReplyDelete*social media groups
* community forums
N others can inhibit great improvement
for keatlegile
ReplyDeleteIn
ReplyDeleteThis generation social media is the powerfull tool It has a loud voice it’s can build kill destroy only if we can guide wat we post or say
True.
Deletei like your structure and the fact that you went straight to the point
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteI learnt a lot from this and it made me realize that media is a very powerful tool it gives hopes to the hopeless, if used in the right way it can make life better because it makes us realize that we are not alone we are able to support each other and fight GBV in all the possible ways there is
ReplyDeleteThat's the truth. Social media can be a safe place for victims to seek help, but only if we use it correctly.
DeleteI think social media it can reduce GBV because social media is a great way to share articles, tips and tools for the prevention of GBV for an example we can create a Facebook page says hashtag stop sexual harrassment and also on we can create a group on WhatsApp were by we can openly discuss our views and experiences and support each other.
ReplyDeleteTrue, social media can be used to help victims, meanwhile triggers survivors of violence. This means to me that PRPs should use social media not only as a Channel to convey meaning and achieve their goal, but also as a tool for "strategic communication ". I mean not to emphasize on the matter and make the victims feel more hurt, but for them to find comfort ans feel supporter. good analysis.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThis is a very informative blog on the #GBV social issue. I also like the structure.
ReplyDeleteSocial media is a platform whre those who dont hv hope meet with those with hope.GBV can be addressed here .actual i hv leant a lot in yr articles and i believe that most pple who go through yr pages will come back with life changing testimonies
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSocial media can build or destroy the lives of our brothers and sisters.bt we are grateful for having people who can use it positively.through yr work ,I hv leant a lot on GBV and will also help those who are affected
ReplyDeleteIndeed, social media can build or destroy the lives of our brothers and sisters. That's why it is very important to educate people about how to use social media effectively and not use it to further generate violence.
DeleteYour content is very informative, educational and very interesting to read, and despite the severe implications of harmful behaviors it is very sad and scary to see how most attacks or violence often remain unreported.
ReplyDeleteThank you. Indeed, it is very sad to see how most perpetrators remain unreported. That is why it's so important to use social media to educate people about the importance of reporting perpetrators.
DeleteSocial Media is a fast growing platform that's used by many for different reasons. GBV is one of social issues that Africa and South Africa included is facing. PR professionals do not have to focus on just creating posts/ reel etc., but can start a live/space where we discuss about GBV. Taking Facebook and Twitter for example, those are the busiest socials we have and we see people posting about GBV, but when you observe you'll realize that the word "GBV" is strictly applicable when it's a woman who's a victim, not man. This shows that we still need to do more about this, so professionals have to analyze such a case and come with solution with and for social media
ReplyDeleteYou have mentioned important points. Thank you for also giving us recommendations on which social media platforms we can use to create awareness about GBV. It is so sad that when we address GBV, we focus on women only, forgetting that men can also be victims of this crime. That is why I'm saying social media can be a powerful tool to educate people about such issues.
DeleteI like the content of your blog as it raises awareness and encouraging people facing issues of GBV to encounter their fears and suppression they are facing with their inmates.PR professionals are doing a great work #endGBV.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteAmazing well researched and educational. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteGender based violence is really a problem in our society. Your blog is courageous to those who fear to stand up for being mistreated by their partners.
ReplyDeleteReply
Replies
Thank you. Indeed gender-based violence is a huge problem in our society.
DeleteGreat insight given on GBV and how social media can be used to raise awareness. I like that you also highlight the not so rosey aspect of it. I hope now that our justice system will be more active on social media too and realise that some victims have found social media to be a safe space for them to raise their voice and that they can try coming up with creative ways of helping victims speak up too.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
Delete