Social media has become more than images of pets and friends. For some, social media has opened the doors of activism and serves as a powerful platform for victims of sexual assault to connect and encourage others to fight for long overdue justice.
This new awakening deserves special attention this month, as April is Sexual Assault Awareness month — a month dedicated to raising awareness and empowering victims to speak out about assault.
On Oct. 15, 2017, actress and activist Alyssa Milano encouraged women on Twitter to post #MeToo if they have been sexually harassed or assaulted. The phrase “Me too” and its movement were founded by civil rights activist Tarana Burke in 2016 to help shed light on people suffering from sexual abuse.
The movement quickly took on a life of its own as people across the globe joined hands around the world to support victims.
#MeToo blazed through social media feeds to create awareness of individuals and cultures that enabled sexual predators to abuse positions of power and take advantage of their victims.
In 2017, some of the brave men and women who were at the forefront of the #MeToo movement were recognized as Time’s Person of the Year. The magazine cover honored them as “The Silence Breakers”.
Female celebrities including Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, and Taylor Swift said enough is enough and helped show how predators like Harvey Weinstein needed to be brought to justice for their egregious abuse of power.
People of all professions and backgrounds began to join the movement and post #MeToo to create awareness and lend strength to victims who may still feel haunted or intimidated by their abusers.
This is just the start of a blazing new phenomenon in which people are raising awareness and reporting sexual assault by way of social media.
By tweeting #MeToo, a crime can be brought to the surface and cowardly predators can be exposed for their actions. Social media is becoming the catalyst for people to break free of the paralyzing grip of fear, allowing them to shed light on the sexual abuse and harassment that has been hidden in the shadows.
Whether on a college campus, in a work office, or on the set of a new TV show, sexual assault can happen to anyone. A movement like #MeToo or #TimesUp can connect victims of sexual abuse to a community of strong people ready to advocate alongside them and help bring all sexual predators to justice.
Exposing a predator on social media can protect the next individual from falling victim to a repeat offense of sexual abuse. Sharing stories will not only serve as activism for a global issue but can save another person’s life.
A survey conducted on Jan 2014 by OVW and the Bureau of Justice Statistics found “One in five young women have been sexually assaulted while they’re in college. While men compromise a smaller number of survivors, male survivors are no less important.” Social media can help college students band together against sexual abuse on campus.
#TimesUp is a movement founded in January 2018, which caught fire through social media and awakened hundreds of women to report sexual offenses. Timesupnow.com states “the movement is a legal defense for victims of sexual assault, harassment and inequality in the workplace.” The site also states that “1 in 3 women ages 18 to 34 have been sexually harassed at work and 71 percent of the women did not report”.
#TimesUp provides resources to educate women and men about the laws regarding sexual assault and harassment. They also provide information to help people understand what sexual harassment is and how to recognize it.
Disclosing private matters such as sexual abuse on social media is not for everyone, it’s understandable that some may feel uncomfortable with their private life being exposed. Support the people who are fighting the good fight and find strength in their efforts to empower the victims who still feel intimidated by their abusers.
Currently there are 1 billion active members on social media, help increase the participation of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movement. Repost or speak out against sexual assault and sexual harassment.
Your voice can make a safer place for the generation to come. Our brothers and sisters will see our courage and follow in our footsteps.
