Mass media coverage of DV has increased during the past year due to the rapid rise of cases during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the most notable discourse has been on social media, where hashtags and viral videos spread information about DV much faster and widely than traditional media. An example of the powerful influence of social media on the issue of DV is the hand signal that went viral on TikTok this past Summer.
The Tik-Tok video shows how victims of DV can covertly and safely let someone know that they need help during a video chat. Originally promoted by the Canadian Women’s Foundation, the signal has spread widely around the world as a tool for victims of abuse (Rolfe, 2020). Of course, it requires both people on the video to know the signal and recognize what it means, along with knowing the right action to take afterwards, since raising alarms may put the victim of DV in a dangerous position. Aside from these issues, the new signal has the potential of saving lives, especially during a time when victims of DV are most vulnerable, such as during the Covid-19 pandemic, where they are even more isolated from support networks.
The viral video shows the power of social media as a tool to lead public discourse and spread awareness about DV. In addition, social media itself can be part of the intervention and prompt action by involving the mass population in distributing an important message. Simply put, social media should not be discounted as a powerful platform for public discourse, but the message must be thoughtful and complete in order to consider both positive and negative consequences it may have on the impacted population.
Rolfe, B. (2020, June 8). The hand signal going viral on TikTok that could save lives. Yahoo! News. https://au.news.yahoo.com/the-hand-signal-going-viral-on-tik-tok-that-could-save-lives-024642984.html
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